Bus driver uses LED display to beg bystanders “Call 911”
Most days, driving a bus is about keeping to a schedule and dodging bad drivers. But sometimes, it’s about saving lives. That’s what one Nashville bus driver did when a routine route turned into chaos. With a passenger under attack, the driver sent a silent distress call—right on the bus’s LED display.
The message? “Call 911.”
It worked.
A routine ride turns violent
The WeGo Transit bus was making its usual rounds when things went south. A man, later identified as Augustine Collier, approached a woman seated on the bus. According to a police report, he grabbed her hand—hard—and tried to take her phone. He accused her of photographing him and shouted racial comments.
When the woman fought back, Collier reportedly tried to choke her. Thankfully, the bus driver slammed the brakes, causing Collier to lose his balance and hit the floor. Other passengers stepped in to break up the fight, but the danger wasn’t over yet.
That’s when the driver took action, using the LED display to call for help. A bystander saw the “Call 911” message and alerted police, who intercepted the bus at the next stop.
A quick arrest
When officers arrived, they found Collier still on the bus. According to police, he admitted to grabbing the woman’s phone and said he wanted to choke her but lost his balance. He also claimed he acted because he “feared for his safety.”
Cops didn’t buy it. They arrested Collier on charges of robbery and possession of a controlled substance after finding a glass bottle of marijuana in his possession.
WeGo Transit praises quick thinking
In a statement, WeGo Transit commended the driver’s actions, highlighting the training its operators receive to handle emergencies. “The safety of our passengers and operators is a top priority,” a spokesperson said. Using the LED display to call for help is just one of many tools in the drivers’ arsenal.
For the passengers on this bus, those tools—and one driver’s quick thinking—may have prevented a far worse outcome.
Sometimes, it’s not just about driving the route. It’s about steering passengers out of harm’s way.
