ATLANTA -- The driver of a MARTA bus accused of dragging a 62-year-old woman caught in the door has been fired following an investigation by the transit agency.
MARTA officials said Friday Belinda McMillan violated work rules for "leaving the scene of an accident without authorization and making a false statement."
According to Atlanta Police, Lettie Robinson was getting off MARTA bus 2977 on Route 51 at her usual stop, near the corner of Joseph E. Boone Boulevard and Mayson Turner Road.
"I was reaching for my key in my purse, and she closed the door on my arm," Robinson told 11Alive News. "I knocked on the window, but she wouldn't stop."
A witness told 11Alive News that McMillian seemed agitated by Robinson before she got to the stop. He said people on the bus were trying to notify the driver that Robinson was being dragged, but it seemed like McMillian had no regard for what was happening.
Robinson had been dragged 63 feet by the time the bus stopped. The police report said when McMillian opened the door, "the victim fell to the ground, possibly striking her head on the bus on the way down."
She suffered a broken left arm, cuts and bruises. As the women in the nearby car helped her out, witnesses told police McMillian simply took off and resumed her route.
With help from a MARTA route supervisor, officers caught up with McMillian approximately 6 miles away at the West Lake MARTA station.
Police spokesperson Officer Kim Jones said McMillian told police a different version of events.
"She stated that the lady was running along side the bus then tripped and fell,"Jones said. "However the victim in this case uses a walker, so she wouldn't be running alongside the bus."
At one point McMillian said Robinson had never even been a passenger on the bus because a MARTA officer removed her when she wouldn't take her seat.
MARTA Officer T. Maddox confirmed that he asked Robinson to take her seat, but noted that she did, so the bus continued on its way. He told Atlanta Police that it's sort of her routine.
"MARTA Officer Maddox said that the victim rides the same bus every night and almost always speaks loudly and refuses to take her seat for a few minutes and then takes her seat," the police report said. "He thought that the arrestee should know this as it is a common occurrence with the victim."
Related:
Police: Bus Driver Drags Woman 63 Feet (Video of Bus Drivers Anger, Not A New Thing To Hear Now Adays)
MARTA officials said Friday Belinda McMillan violated work rules for "leaving the scene of an accident without authorization and making a false statement."
According to Atlanta Police, Lettie Robinson was getting off MARTA bus 2977 on Route 51 at her usual stop, near the corner of Joseph E. Boone Boulevard and Mayson Turner Road.
"I was reaching for my key in my purse, and she closed the door on my arm," Robinson told 11Alive News. "I knocked on the window, but she wouldn't stop."
A witness told 11Alive News that McMillian seemed agitated by Robinson before she got to the stop. He said people on the bus were trying to notify the driver that Robinson was being dragged, but it seemed like McMillian had no regard for what was happening.
Robinson had been dragged 63 feet by the time the bus stopped. The police report said when McMillian opened the door, "the victim fell to the ground, possibly striking her head on the bus on the way down."
She suffered a broken left arm, cuts and bruises. As the women in the nearby car helped her out, witnesses told police McMillian simply took off and resumed her route.
With help from a MARTA route supervisor, officers caught up with McMillian approximately 6 miles away at the West Lake MARTA station.
Police spokesperson Officer Kim Jones said McMillian told police a different version of events.
"She stated that the lady was running along side the bus then tripped and fell,"Jones said. "However the victim in this case uses a walker, so she wouldn't be running alongside the bus."
At one point McMillian said Robinson had never even been a passenger on the bus because a MARTA officer removed her when she wouldn't take her seat.
MARTA Officer T. Maddox confirmed that he asked Robinson to take her seat, but noted that she did, so the bus continued on its way. He told Atlanta Police that it's sort of her routine.
"MARTA Officer Maddox said that the victim rides the same bus every night and almost always speaks loudly and refuses to take her seat for a few minutes and then takes her seat," the police report said. "He thought that the arrestee should know this as it is a common occurrence with the victim."
Related:
Police: Bus Driver Drags Woman 63 Feet (Video of Bus Drivers Anger, Not A New Thing To Hear Now Adays)
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