Another bus driver attacked in Tampa, police say

TAMPA — A Hillsborough County transit bus driver was cut several times in the leg Tuesday afternoon, according to Tampa police.

The driver’s injuries don’t appear to be life-threatening, they said. Officers have the suspect, an adult man, in custody. Police have not yet identified either person. Carson Chambers, a spokeswoman for the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority, declined to release the driver’s name.

The attack happened about 2:37 p.m. at E Waters Avenue and N Ninth Street on a Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority bus.

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It comes six months after a bus passenger slit the throat of another Tampa bus driver, 46-year-old Thomas Dunn, killing him. The accused attacker, 36-year-old Justin McGriff, is facing a first-degree murder charge.

Spurred by Dunn’s death, Hillsborough transit officials have been working to outfit buses with safety shields that separate drivers from riders. The bus in Tuesday’s attack didn’t have one, said Chambers.

So far the agency has installed shields on roughly 100 buses and have about 80 more to go. They hope to finish by the end of the year.

“Obviously, this adds more sense of urgency," Chambers said.