SEPTA on Monday suspended a bus driver without pay after video of the driver attacking and throwing water on a female passenger surfaced on social media over the weekend.
Police and the transit authority are continuing to investigate the incident, officials said.
The 15-second video, which had been viewed on Facebook more than 95,000 times by Monday afternoon, shows a male bus driver approaching a woman standing in the center aisle of the bus and throwing what appears to be bottled water in her face as she tries to push him away. As the driver walks away, the woman laughs.
SEPTA Transit Police Chief Tom Nestel III on Monday said that his department is aware of the incident and investigating. He said it happened on a Route 57 bus stopped at Rising Sun and Duncannon avenues, in Olney, on Friday.
SEPTA police have already interviewed the bus driver involved, Nestel said. SEPTA officials said later Monday that the driver has been suspended as the investigation continues.
Nestel said police believe the incident began with a fare evasion, and that they're working to identify and reach out to the woman the driver assaulted to interview her.
Nestel said anyone with information on the incident should call 215-580-8111.
