SEATTLE — On Monday, King County Metro leaders, drivers, and riders spoke up in favor of increased safety measures for bus drivers in response to the death of Metro bus driver Shawn Yim.
Police say 53-year-old Richard Sitzlack stabbed him multiple times after an argument over an open window.
ATU 587 President Greg Woodfill said drivers have been demanding safety changes for years.
“Our last murder was 26 years ago, and we didn’t get the change then, but we will get it now,” Woodfill said.
Today’s panel serves as a workshop for drivers, riders, metro, and city leaders to determine the most dangerous factors surrounding bus use and then fix them.
“We are doing the things we can do, we are listening and working with people,” Metro Communications Director Sean Hawks said. “These solutions need to happen fast, we are listening when things come up and finding solutions that work.”
Woodfill said it should have never taken a death in the Metro family to get to this point in the discussion.
“Before we even bury our brother or mourn him we have to jump into politics to create change. Our operators are fearful to come to work, they have PTSD from being on the bus,” Woodfill said.
The union is demanding enclosed and locked driver compartments, extra transit officers on the buses, and better lighting at bus stops, just to name a few.
“The time for action is now, our lives depend on your decision,” one driver said.
Many people who spoke up in the meeting say their main job now is to make sure Shawn Yim’s death wasn’t in vain.
The next transit safety meeting does not currently have a set date, but when that is released, we will post that information here on KIRO7.com
©2025 Cox Media Group
