A young Winnipeg woman wants better security on transit after she was attacked on a bus.
Kayla Pretti said she was taking the #19 bus eastbound from downtown when the attack happened.
Pretti said she was talking quietly on a cellphone when a man spat on her.
When she confronted the man, she said he grabbed her hair and punched her.
“[The man] grabbed the back of my hair, pulled me straight up, my butt came out of the seat. And he was wrestling me around,” said Pretti.
Pretti has a cut on her face, and a doctor told her she has a concussion.
She said she's felt foggy since the incident.
She reported the attack to Winnipeg Police.
Winnipeg police confirmed they are looking into the incident
“It does appear an unprovoked attack or assault did occur,” said Const. Jason Michalyshen of the Winnipeg Police Service. “We have reached out to transit to obtain that surveillance video, so I think right now we’re in that process of reviewing it.”
Pretti said she feels traumatized from the attack and has started taking a different bus as a result.
"I want safety on the buses. It’s ridiculous. I shouldn’t be a 21 year old getting attacked by like a 40-50 year old man on the bus,” Pretti said. “I’m switching bus routes now. I will not take the #19 anymore.”
The Amalgamated Transit Union recently pushed for undercover police officers on buses.
President John Callahan said safety of passengers and drivers is a top priority.
He said better security on transit could help deter incidents like this.