Mum-to-be 'fined' for being sick on bus
A HEAVILY pregnant teenager was reduced to tears after a Stagecoach driver demanded £5 from her to clean the bus when she was sick.
Stagecoach has now launched an investigation into the incident and admit there may have been a 'misunderstanding'.
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Naomi Reay and her mother Sharon Wright
Naomi Reay, 18, from Torquay, was travelling on a Stagecoach bus in Paignton when she suffered morning sickness and vomited.
Naomi (pictured with mum Sharon Wright), whose baby is due on Christmas Day, panicked when she suddenly felt ill and was unable to leave her seat because the bus was full.
Fellow passengers were sympathetic and helped her while the driver pulled the vehicle over at Victoria Park in Paignton.
Naomi, whose father and grandfather were both bus drivers, says she was humiliated when the driver then called on passengers at the front of the bus to leave.
Naomi says he then 'shocked' everyone by demanding £5 from her to clean up the bus.
A Stagecoach spokeswoman said the company had been made aware of an incident and was investigating the matter.
She added: "We have been made aware of the incident involving the young lady and, having spoken to the driver involved, the facts are still unclear.
"However, it is not our policy to charge people for cleaning when they are ill, so we believe a misunderstanding may have occurred.
"We would therefore like to invite the young lady to contact us directly so we can complete our investigation."
Naomi was too upset and humiliated to get back on the bus, despite the kindness of other passengers who supported her, and caught a train home instead.
Sharon Wright, Naomi's mother, said her daughter was too upset to speak about the incident.
"She came home devastated," she said. "I'm furious. How could they be so insensitive? She couldn't help it. She's pregnant.
"I've never heard anything like it in my life. Her dad's a bus driver and my dad was a bus driver and they just don't do this sort of thing.
"I could maybe understand it if she was drunk, but obviously she hadn't been drinking, not in her condition.
"She says the bus driver eventually got the passengers back on the bus, but she was too upset and humiliated.
"She couldn't get back on the bus, although the other passengers had been really nice. One woman held her hair when she was sick and she was concerned about Naomi.
"Some of the others couldn't believe the driver acted that way. They were shocked. How could he possibly charge her after something like that?
"She ended up getting the train home, even though she had a Day Rider ticket from Stagecoach.
"She's been sick throughout her pregnancy, but she never knows when it's going to happen. She's taking anti-sickness pills now.
"We would want an apology at least from Stagecoach. It was a horrible experience for Naomi."
20 Comments
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by Melanie, Devon
Wednesday, November 04 2009, 1:57PM
“This is exactly why I drive everywhere. Buses are so unreliable I dont know how people depend on them to get to work!! And then when a bus finally does turn up you get some rude old man greeting you. I steer well clear of buses!!!!”
by glenys wright, brixham
Wednesday, November 04 2009, 6:55AM
“i too have experience of rude and arrogant bus drivers especially on the No. 17 bus. One elderly gentleman who gets on and off at wall park was even asked to get his pass out last winter, he carries a white stick and he obviously very infirm. The driver even waited until he struggled in his insidepocket to obtain it. . Dropping his stick and then obviously shaky he managed to produce it. He is 94 years of age. Apart from this incident the majority of drivers are rude and unpleasant. One woman driver last year didnt even ask where anyone was going who had a pass and gave out tickets for an all round trip back to town. Yes, get your act together Stagecoach and teach the drivers a few manners.”
by Ashleigh, Cambs
Wednesday, November 04 2009, 1:31AM
“It also looks like my comment has been removed. I have caught a lot of buses(a lot of them being stagecoach) and of all of hose drivers, only 3 are friendly and helpful. Is it not bad enough that the buses arrive late(if at all) The drivers have 2 b unpleasant and rude? This young lady should compensation for being put through that. And as for the bus being too busy for her to move out of her seat, surely the driver should not let that many people on the bus for health and safety reasons? They should not let the driver continue driving their buses. He humiliated her once(Which is bad enough) but how will she feel if she sees him next time she gets on the bus-if she uses the bus again.”
by gabby, torquay
Wednesday, November 04 2009, 12:50AM
“I agree with these comments there are a lot of uncaring arrogrant drivers there has been for years. I must say the name stagecoach suits them all they want now is their cowboys uniforms.
I want like to send my best wishes to the poor girl and hopes she enjoys the rest of her pregency and gives birth to a healthy baby”
by Arthur, Torbay
Tuesday, November 03 2009, 8:44PM
“Why is it 'obvious she hadn't been drinking, not in her condition'?
She probably hadn't but I have seen enough pregnant teenagers drinking and smoking around the harbourside to last a lifetime.
It ranks along with 'her drink was spiked, she woulld never have unprotected sex' as a modern oxymoron.
This is modern Torbay.”