Man assaults bus driver for refusing unscheduled stop

A transit bus driver received a "flurry of fists" to the head during a routine run into West Kelowna Saturday night.

The bus was travelling along Highway 97 toward West Kelowna about 11:40 p.m. July 13 when a male passenger started yelling at the driver to let him off on Boucherie Road. The driver told the man the bus doesn't stop at that location.

"According to witnesses, as the driver neared the Stevens/Westlake Road interchange, the male got up and began swearing at the driver," RCMP Cst. Steven Holmes stated in a press release.

The man then delivered a "flurry of fists" as the bus pulled into the bus stop, Holmes said. The driver was able to get the passenger off the bus before calling police.

The driver was taken by ambulance to Kelowna General Hospital where he was treated for head injuries including a fractured jaw.

Regan Hammon, 33, was found a kilometre away and arrested without incident. He is from West Kelowna. He appeared in court yesterday, charged with assault causing bodily harm. He will appear in court again tomorrow.