MTA drivers fears return to worker after punch by stranger

NYC subway conductor Jean Joseph was the victim of a brutal attack last week while on duty at the Ditmars Boulevard Station in Astoria. As he stuck his head out the train window to ensure all passengers were safely aboard, a deranged stranger punched him in the face, causing him to suffer broken teeth.

The 33-year-old MTA employee, originally from Haiti and soon to become a father, recounted the harrowing experience. The attacker, who was wearing a white undershirt, seemed agitated and muttered something about Joseph closing the doors. It is believed that the man was angry about missing the train and lashed out at the conductor.

The assault left Joseph traumatized, unable to return to work since the incident. He shared a nightmare he had, reliving the moment he was struck by a train instead of a person. The assailant fled the scene when he heard Joseph’s distress call over the supervisor’s radio.

This incident is just one of many recent attacks on MTA employees in the city’s subway system. Another conductor Joseph works with was also recently assaulted, highlighting the dangers transit workers face while on duty. His fiancée expressed fear for his safety, recalling a previous incident where a conductor was slashed in the neck while sticking his head out of a train window in Brooklyn.

Joseph was treated at Mt. Sinai Hospital for a cut lip and two cracked teeth, but the emotional toll of the attack lingers. He expressed hesitance to follow the standard procedure of sticking his head out the window, fearing for his safety. Despite police efforts to apprehend the assailant, no arrests have been made.

The assault on MTA employees has been on the rise, with 11 reported incidents so far this year. While major transit crimes, including murder, have decreased, assaults continue to pose a significant threat to workers. The data shows a concerning trend in attacks on transit employees, with a peak of 22 incidents in 2022.

As Joseph navigates the physical and emotional aftermath of the attack, the safety of MTA workers remains a pressing concern. The need for increased security measures and support for employees facing such risks is evident in the face of rising assault rates in the city’s subway system.