Somerville MBTA Employee Allegedly Drove Bus into Boston Parking Officer

The MBTA bus driver who allegedly hit a Boston Transportation Department parking enforcement officer Thursday is a Somerville resident, according to Boston.com.

Lataria Milton, 34, is accused of running her bus into the parking officer in Kenmore Square at about 8 a.m. Thursday after the officer tried to give her a ticket.

She was arraigned in Roxbury District Court Friday and charged with reckless operation of a motor vehicle and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

Boston.com reports Milton originally comes from Dorchester but had recently moved to Somerville.

According to MBTA Director of Communications Joe Pesaturo, witnesses told police the Thursday incident began when the Route 65 bus operator tried to avoid being ticketed for stopping in a no-standing zone on Commonwealth Avenue in Kenmore Square.

Pesaturo said that the Boston Transportation Department employee walked over to Milton's side of the bus and prepared to ticket her, and she then drove the bus forward, allegedly striking the transportation department employee.

Pesaturo said the officer was taken to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries. Witnesses told police that after the bus made contact with the officer's van, the bus continued moving forward, striking the rear of a vehicle that was stopped before the traffic light. Witnesses told police the bus pushed one car into a second car. 

Pesaturo said Milton, who has been with the MBTA for 10 years, is undergoing the standard post-accident screening for drugs or alcohol.