A Peter Pan bus driver is facing criminal charges after she allegedly locked a passenger in the luggage compartment of a bus headed to Boston on Sunday afternoon.
Troopers responding to a 911 call from a woman who said she was locked in the luggage compartment of a bus that was traveling eastbound on Interstate 84 around 4 p.m. pinged the call to the area of exit 70 in Willington, Connecticut, state police said.
A trooper parked at exit 73 pulled over the bus and spoke with the male driver who then opened both passenger side compartments and reportedly found the female victim who called 911.
“We were concerned about her conditions,” fellow passenger Caroline Van Allen said. “It’s hot. There’s probably no air conditioning, no ventilation and she was probably breathing really disgusting air/ carbon dioxide.”
The 32-year-old New York woman, who refused medical attention, said she had been purposely locked inside the compartment by a female driver while attempting to retrieve items from her bag, state police said.
“I wouldn’t say purposefully but I would say carelessly,” Van Allen said. “I don’t think she was like, ‘haha like I got one.’ I think she was probably just careless and not thinking.”
The driver, who was still on the bus as a passenger, was identified as Wendy Helena Alberty.
Alberty was arrested and charged with breach of peace — second degree, reckless endangerment — second degree, and unlawful restraint — first degree.
She has been ordered held on $2,000 bail.
She is scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 21.
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