SEATTLE - A Metro bus driver severely beaten over weekend says she forgives the teens she believes attacked her.
Kathy's identity is hidden, but her heartfelt words of forgiveness are clear.
"I'm angry at the situation but I want to hug the boy who did this," she said. "He needs help."
Despite the heavy bruising of her eyes, a concussion and a busted lip, Kathy says she forgives the teen who she says attacked her.
She says just after midnight on Saturday, three teen boys demanded to be let off at South 144th and International Highway.
"Then I heard from the back "Back door B****," she said.
Rules prohibit her from letting them out the back at that hour. She says they kicked the door, and then attacked.
"The last thing I remember is somebody say I'm going to take you out," she said.
"This is the worst attack I've ever seen in quite a few years," said union president Paul Bachtel.
Bachtel is now calling for an increase in police on stops that are known to be dangerous.
King County Metro General Manager Jim Jacobson says they saw a 14 percent decline in attacks last year but security is important.
"We have roughly 9 million people get on our system every month and we'd typically have one event like this on a monthly basis," he said.
Kathy's son, Andy Pantalochi, thinks Metro should take it one step further and add plexiglass enclosures around the bus driver's seat.
"Major cities across the United States have their bus drivers in closures," said Pantalochi. "It only takes a second to hit someone, but it takes two minutes to break into a cage or enclosure. They are not going to do that, they are going to leave the bus."
The teens, ages 15, 16 and 17, had their first court appearance Monday. They were released from jail to their families with home monitoring devices and are now facing assault and malicious mischief charges for the attack and breaking the door of the bus.
Kathy says she wants them prosecuted, but also wants them to get help.
"Somebody somewhere is failing all of these children, running around at midnight at Pacific Highway, and I can't in my heart of hearts hold him responsible," she said.
Kathy says she plans to return to work after she heals.
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