| Author | Message | ||
     Joe_solo |
Fellow Ulysses rider Tom Bregg of Edmonton, AB Canada was brutally beaten at 7:30 am Thursday morning while doing his job as a city bus driver. His condition is grave. The attack was unprovoked in any way. I work with Tom, he is one of the most gentle people I know. Tom has worked as a bus driver for the City of Edmonton for the past 33 years & for the last 25 years he has been teaching riding skills at the Canada Safety Council. Tom owns a collection of motorcycles and is a true rider. I wish him a speedy recovery. Tom lurks on these pages from time to time - I don't know what his user name is. Joe | ||
| Paralegalpete |
That is truly sad to hear. Please wish him the best from me, and I hope and pray that he recovers soon. (Message edited by paralegalpete on December 05, 2009) | ||
| Ulynut |
Sucks. Did they catch the creeps that did it? | ||
| Paralegalpete |
Here is the story http://www.edmontonsun.com/news/edmonton/2009/12/0 5/12049951-sun.html | ||
| Joe_solo |
Yes, they got the guy, he has been charged with attempted murder. The bus Tom was driving was equipped with audio and video surveillance - about 50 passengers were on board. | ||
| Ulynut |
Just read the story. That is unbelievable. That guy needs to go to jail forever. Animals like that shouldn't be out on the street. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
50 folks watched this happen????? Hopefully some of them stopped it. | ||
| Joe_solo |
No, no one helped Tom. Most of the people were grade school children & young females. The media account seems to differ somewhat from what is being told in the bus garage. The guy's behavior was "angry" - we tend to use things like getting them to pay for their ride as a way of getting them off the bus. I'm sure if you were a passenger on a bus you would appreciate the bus driver's effort in not allowing a disruptive person to board. This is one of the most trying parts of our job. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
I just don't get it??? WHY?? bus fare??? I wish I was on that bus, I may have got my ass kicked but I would like to think I would have done something.... this kind of shit just pisses me off like nothing else... I hope Tom has a speedy recovery and Mr.24 year old gets whats coming to him... | ||
| Etennuly |
Wow! I thought that kind of crap was reserved for here in the States. I wish him well in his recovery. | ||
| Rwcfrank |
I learned a long time ago to try and not make sense out of such horrible acts of human indignity, you'll just make yourself crazy. My prayers for Tom and his family and I hope his recovery is full and complete and somehow he is able to benefit from this horrible act. | ||
| Bcmike |
That's totally sick! And the freak will probably get off on a mental health plea. Best wishes to Tom on a fast recovery. | ||
| 4_pete_sake |
My heart and thoughts go out to he and his family. Positive people can make amazing recoveries ...the will of a good person is a hard thing to break.... Cheers- | ||
| Nevrenuf |
thoughts and prayers for tom and his family for this heinous act. hope this 24 year old gets a little guy love while he's in prison. | ||
| Richardbiker |
As a fellow transit driver, I am always appalled to hear these things. My thoughts and prayers are for Tom and his family. Hopefully the Canadian courts can put this guy away for a while. A fellow driver was attacked a couple years ago (not as severely,thankfully) and a month later the guy was on my bus again acting agitated. Nothing came of it, but why wasn't this guy in jail? What happens is the court pushes these people into an overloaded psychiatric system and they go right out on the streets again. They stop taking their meds and the behavior returns. Vicious cycle with the poor guy doing his job becoming the victim. | ||
| Joe_solo |
Thanks for the comments & support guys. This guy was on the "Transit Banned List". Because of the Freedom of Information & Privacy Laws in Alberta it is almost imposable for us to view that list - or their images. The law is in favor of the perpetrator. A Friends page has been set up on facebook, http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=190354340953, more that 1100 have joined. Hope Tom is someday able to see that support. | ||
| Shopguy10 |
This is the exact reason why I have a concealed pistol permit. I don't go looking for trouble, I just don't want to become a victim! Unfortunately Canada does not allow it's citizens to protect themselves, so this kind of thing will happen again and again! God bless you Mr. Bregg and may there be no mercy for your attacker. | ||
| Black51 |
Shopguy10, I'm with you. Had I been on that bus things would have been different. As Wolfridgerider pointed out I would have first attempted a fist to the skull. Had that not worked I would have introduced him to a doubl tap of 9mm rounds, delivered with extreme prejudice. He would have met his maker. I too cannot believe that no one tried to help him, even if it was to pound on the windows to attract attention for help, or a group of the young females on the bus brutalizing him. I hope this scum bag gets to be someone's "wife" in prison for the rest of his life. | ||
| Joe_solo |
Several people did phone 911. The attack was very quick. The video apparently shows the guy moving back in the bus cursing and being abusive - then quickly returning to the driver and giving him several blows to the head, then dragging him out of the bus and kicking the unconscious driver 15-20 times. If you were a 12 year old girl what would you do in such a situation? The school that these children attended had to bring in councilors to deal with their trauma. I have not viewed this video so what I relate is hear-say. But knowing Tom for the past 30+ years I would say he tried his best to provide a safe ride for his customers. As of today, he is still in ICU. He is conscious and communicating, he had more surgery on Friday - attempt to repair his eye. (Message edited by Joe_Solo on December 07, 2009) | ||
| Ulynut |
Any update on Toms condition? | ||
| Joe_solo |
No further information at this time. The family and Edmonton Transit have not released any information. Rumor has it that he may loose one eye and possibly both. His Throat is crushed and has numerous facial fractures. He remains in ICU. His communication is limited to "thumbs up or down" & tapping. We can only hope he has not suffered any brain injury. Tom's brother & sister have been making posts on the Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=190354340953 &ref=mf Thanks for your post. Joe | ||
| Ulynut |
Sucks. Thanks Joe. | ||
| Ulywife |
Tom and his family will be in our prayers. Thank you for sharing his story and please keep us posted on his progress. | ||
| Buewulf |
I can't believe I missed this post. I sure hope Tom pulls through this. What a terrible ordeal for both him and his family. News like this just enrages me. I hope Canadians take crimes like this more seriously than we do here in the States. We let scum like that off far too easily in my opinion. | ||
| Bryn1203 |
Best wishes to Tom. Respect to him & his work mates. | ||
| Joe_solo |
Update on Tom's condition. He is still in ICU and in stable condition. His family has not released any further information. | ||
| 4_pete_sake |
stable is better.... thumbs up Tom.... keep your thumb up!!!! | ||
| Joe_solo |
Gordon Bregg, Tom's brother posted the following on Facebook. "Tom went through a nine hour operation on Friday for facial reconstruction. He'll never go through a metal detector again without setting off the alarm (many plates and pins holding things together). To those wishing to see him, please be patient a little while longer. He is still not receiving visitors." | ||
| Ulynut |
Sounds like progress. Maybe he'll be home for the new year. | ||
| Joe_solo |
Unlikely, he is still in ICU |
