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MTA Bus Driver: Woman Attacked Me For Driving Too Slow

NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- A Brooklyn woman has been charged after allegedly attacking a city bus driver for driving too slow.

Alicea Diaz, 25, was charged Thursday in Brooklyn Criminal Court with assault, harassment, menacing and criminal mischief.

According to the criminal complaint, Diaz allegedly struck B82 Limited bus driver Jacqueline Benjamin, 60, multiple times with a closed fist and broke her glasses. Diaz reportedly became angered by Benjamin's slow driving.

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1010 WINS' Al Jones reports

Diaz, from Coney Island, told the New York Post that Benjamin's slow driving always makes her late for work as a waitress.

"She drives slow on purpose," Diaz told the Post.

Regular riders of the B82 Limited bus confirm that it can be a slow ride

"It's slow. It's a limited bus also…not regular," regular B82 rider Lana, who said she's no fan of the route, told 1010 WINS' Al Jones.

Mapping Lana's trip on Google Maps, it should be a 15-minute ride. She said, however, that it usually takes an hour of more. Other riders agree.

"It makes me late, but the thing is, instead of reacting like that, just leave early," another rider said. "Just leave earlier, 30 minutes earlier, and you'll probably get there exactly on time."

Benjamin, who has been with the MTA for 17 years, grabbed the woman's hooded sweatshirt after the attack and held on until police officers arrived.

Diaz, a regular passenger on the B82 bus, has no prior arrests. Attacking an MTA employee is a felony, and, if convicted, Diaz could face jail time.

Benjamin was treated at Coney Island Hospital for pain to her eye and forehead.

According to the Post, law enforcement sources said three witnesses confirmed Benjamin's story.

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