A Madison Metro bus collided with a restaurant on the city’s east side Tuesday evening after a passenger assaulted the driver.
The incident occurred around 7:45 p.m. at 1 Dempsey Road, where the bus crashed into the Asian House restaurant. Witnesses reported that a female passenger became upset upon learning the bus was not headed to her desired location and began to push and shove the driver, causing him to lose control of the vehicle.
Two individuals sustained minor injuries. One was transported to a local hospital, while the other was treated at the scene, according to the Madison Police Department (MPD). The suspect fled before officers arrived and remains at large.
The crash caused significant damage to both the Asian House restaurant and the adjacent QPS Employment Group office, leading to temporary closures of both businesses.
Metro Transit General Manager Justin Stuehrenberg expressed concern for the well-being of the driver and passengers in a press release, emphasizing that Metro employees are “valued public servants who should be treated with respect.”
The MPD is actively investigating the incident and seeking information regarding the suspect's whereabouts.
