MTA NYC Transit Bus Operator Killed
in Line of DutyMTA NYC Transit Bus Operator Edwin Thomas, 46, was stabbed to death on Monday, December 1st during a dispute with a customer onboard his B46 bus. The incident, which occurred at the intersection of Gates Avenue and Malcom X Boulevard in Brooklyn was reported at 12:32 p.m. Thomas was transported by Emergency Medical Services to Woodhull Hospital where he expired, despite the heroic efforts of paramedics on the scene and medical staff at Woodhull Hospital led by Dr. Maurice Wright, Chairman of the Emergency Department.
Elliot G. Sander, MTA Executive Director and CEO said: “Edwin Thomas’ death is a terrible loss for the MTA, NYC Transit and all of New York. Mr. Thomas was a dedicated bus operator, husband and father who was tragically killed serving the public on his B46 bus route in Brooklyn. The MTA is working closely with the NYPD and the Brooklyn District Attorney to ensure that Mr. Thomas’ killer is brought to justice.”
H. Dale Hemmerdinger, MTA Chairman: “Thousands of wonderful people work at the MTA, and it is a tragedy that one of them was lost in the line of duty today. You never expect something like this to happen, but all of our employees put themselves at potential risk every day to serve New York. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Thomas’ family and friends at this tragic time.”
A seven-year Transit veteran assigned to Flatbush Depot, Thomas was a valued employee and will be sorely missed by his co-workers. “Dealing with the death of an employee is the most difficult task of any Transit manager and this is certainly no exception. Bus Operator Thomas was killed in the line of duty, serving the people of New York City,” said NYC Transit President Howard H. Roberts, Jr. “I speak for the whole of NYC Transit in offering my deepest sympathies to his family.”
The last bus operator slain in the line of duty was Harvey Schield in 1981. He was killed while operating a B44 bus at Avenue Z and Nostrand Avenue in Brooklyn. Mindful of the dangers bus operators face MTA NYC Transit works closely with the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office on it’s Assault on Transit Workers Program. This initiative is designed to ensure that assaults on MTA NYC Transit workers such as bus operators, train operators and conductors will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
