West Vancouver woman claims she was assaulted after defending bus driver

A West Vancouver woman is sharing a concerning story, telling people she was assaulted while sticking up for a bus driver.

The alleged attack happened on Saturday evening outside the Park Royal Mall, with Karin Ericson saying there was a group of people being “verbally abusive” to a bus driver.

Ericson has shared her ordeal on a Facebook reel video, claiming she was assaulted after she had filmed the group’s behaviour — this while coming back from the Honda Celebration of Light fireworks competition in Vancouver’s English Bay.

In the video, Ericson’s face is badly bruised as she outlines her experience.

A West Vancouver woman is sharing a concerning story, telling people she was assaulted while sticking up for a bus driver. (Courtesy Facebook / Karin Ericson)

Ericson says as she left the bus and was walking to her car, she was “struck from behind and thrown into the street, landing on my face.”

“I know it’s a cliche, but I never, ever thought something like this would happen to me, especially in Park Royal,” Ericson said in the video.

Ericson says she suffered a broken nose and a concussion in the attack, describing it as “extremely traumatic.”

She worries people are becoming too passive in situations but says she wonders now about stepping in, given what happened to her.

“The question I have going forward is, should we get involved in scenarios that don’t involve us to protect others,” Ericson asked in her video.

“I’ve always believed and have raised my daughter to be of help, and after getting assaulted, I’m rethinking all of this.”

CityNews has contacted West Vancouver Police for more details.

–With files from David Nadalini and Isaac Phan Nay