A TTC bus driver was stabbed with a box cutter at Wilson Station on Wednesday evening, an attack that union officials say could have been far worse. The driver, whose name has not been released, was rushed to hospital and is in stable condition, according to Marvin Alfred, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113.
Toronto Police responded to an assault in progress call at approximately 6:29 p.m. on July 8, 2026. Officers arrested 47-year-old Andrew Powell at the scene. Powell is charged with assault and assault with a weapon, and is scheduled to appear at the Toronto Regional Bail Centre on July 9, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. in room 105. The charges have not been proven in court.
Witness Describes Blood at the Scene
One TTC employee told the Toronto Sun that the driver on the 160 Bathurst North route was attacked and “sliced up pretty bad with a box cutter” on the Wilson platform. The employee added that the lower level of the station was filled with police, paramedics, and special constables, and that “there was blood all over the ground at the 160 platform.”
TTC sources confirmed that a box cutter was seen on the ground along with a large amount of blood. The driver was surrounded by his family at hospital and receiving support from senior union directors, Alfred said.
Union and TTC Respond
Marvin Alfred, president of ATU Local 113, said the driver was “minding his own business” when he was approached and attacked. While early reports indicated the driver was stabbed in the arm, Alfred said the wounds are significant. He described the driver as “cut up” but stable.
“The thoughts of the entire organization are with the operator at this difficult time for a full recovery,” the TTC said in a statement. “All supports and counseling services are being extended to the employee.”
TTC spokesperson Stuart Green thanked Toronto Police for their quick response: “We thank Toronto Police for their quick work in apprehending a suspect. We will continue to share any information and evidence we have as police conduct their investigation.”
Safety Concerns Raised
The attack has renewed concerns about TTC worker safety. Columnist Joe Warmington noted that the incident could easily have resulted in a murder, describing bus drivers as “so vulnerable to attack in a complicated world” even when inside their protected glass enclosures. The TTC stated it is “committed to keeping everyone safe while working or riding on our property and we continue our work to enhancing public safety.”
