GO bus driver assaulted by man refusing to pay his fare

A 73-year-old GO bus driver was taken to hospital on Tuesday with serious but non-life threatening injuries after he was assaulted by a passenger.

Shortly after 1 p.m. a male boarded the bus in the area of King St. West and MacNab. He ran passed the driver and sat in the back of the second level. When he was approached by the driver asking him to pay or leave, the male starting swearing and assaulting the driver. The driver was pushed out the door of the bus causing him to fall into a fire hydrant.

The driver was taken to hospital with facial and head injuries.

24-year-old Rocco Vietri of no fixed address was arrested on scene. He is charged with assault, assault causing bodily harm and fail to comply with probation.

He is scheduled to appear in court today.