Auckland bus driver attacked: Fare dodgers on New Lynn 24R beat up man with skateboard

Singh's wife said: “You know, people have no respect for people who work hard for their families – and they just get away with it, that's probably why they keep doing it – and what choice do we have?”

The attack occurred at around 9.30pm on Mayoral Drive. Singh was driving on Route 24R in New Lynn.

“I stopped to pick up passengers and then four young adults got on my bus and wanted a free ride, but I refused them entry.

“Then they ignored me and sat in the back.”

Singh knew the group, they had caused trouble on his bus before. Singh said they regularly avoided paying the fare and kept pressing the button to ask him to stop, only to stay on the bus and abuse him.

Fed up with the ongoing abuse, Singh complained to his superiors and radioed for assistance. He received a call from the bus depot and stepped out of the bus to answer the call and seek advice.

“While I was with my [control operator]they all jump off and I get back on the bus to continue on – but then they get back on my bus and one guy uses the “F-word” to me.

“Then he spits on me and I try to talk to them.

“Then the other guy starts pushing me and fighting.

“They hit me with a skateboard and then I fell to the ground. Now they all started kicking me and hitting me with the skateboard.

“Then they run away.”

Police confirmed that they received a report of an attack on a bus on Mayoral Dr. at around 9.30pm on August 31. A spokesperson said the victim was taken to hospital with moderate injuries.

The police are still searching for the perpetrators and are asking anyone with information about the incident to call 105 and quote the reference number 240901/2676.

Auckland Transport said it was “unable to provide details of this individual incident” but added it was in the process of introducing safety features to protect drivers and had promised to install them on all new buses, with a target of fitting them to 80% of its fleet within two years.

Bus operator Kinetic said it had launched an internal investigation and could not comment on the incident during this time.

Meanwhile, last Saturday, bus driver Rajnish Trehan asked a naughty passenger who refused to pay his fare to show some respect to other public transport users.

However, his request for some decency was met by the passenger first with the words “This is my country, you are my servant” and then with violence.

After his racist tirade, the man gave Trehan a brutal punch in the face, forcing him to be hospitalized and undergo dental treatment for a knocked-out tooth.

Raphael Franks is a breaking news reporter from Auckland who joined the Herald as a Te Rito Cadet in 2022.

Subscribe to The Daily Ha free newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.