Greyhound bus driver fails to lower lift for paraplegic passenger

Larae Ransom, a 25 year old woman with paraplegia, has filmed parts of her trip, claiming that a Greyhound bus driver repeatedly refused to lower the bus lift to allow her to use a restroom for six hours on a trip to Las Vegas. Another witness appears on the news tape supporting the fact that the driver failed to lower the lift for Ransom.

She says she called the company ahead to make sure they could accommodate her needs and her wheelchair. She says they told her they could and she couldn't believe what happened.

Ransom says she felt discriminated against and "even held hostage somewhat" by the driver's refusal to accommodate her need to use a restroom. Her video shows other passengers getting off and on the bus as she remained on board, unable to access a restroom at San Bernadino. The supervisor told the driver to let her off at the next stop in Riverside. According to the news video, the driver again did not lower the lift. At the next stop, the driver claimed the station was closed, although it appears open. She was forced to relieve herself in her wheelchair. On the tape at one point another passenger says to the driver "You were supposed to let her off at the last stop." It was not until the last stop that he let her off.

"It's a violation of the American Disabilities Acts probably a violation of UNRA, it's a violation of common decency," said Randy McMurray, Cochran Law Firm.

Greyhound officials said Friday afternoon that this is a very serious allegation and they will investigate. They say all bus drivers are trained to help anyone with disabilities at any stop.

via abclocal.go.com