A Metro bus driver, age 56, was assaulted early Saturday Jan. 23, and received injuries that resulted in her hospitalization at Valley Medical Center.

Three persons were later arrested, one for the assault and two for vandalizing the bus.

The incident occurred just after midnight. The Route 124 bus stopped in Tukwila at South 144th Street and International Blvd to let passengers off. A group of seven or eight youths gathered at the back door but only two got off before the doors closed.

At least some of the group went to the front of the bus and the driver was punched in the head several times, knocking her unconscious.

Meanwhile two suspects kicked and hit the rear door of the coach, breaking glass and bending the door frame. All suspects then ran off.

A Tukwila K-9 dog tracked the group to a house in the 13700 block of 45th Ave South. Eight people were detained. Eventually witnesses from the bus identified three people who were directly involved in the altercation. They were arrested.

All three were booked into the Youth Center, including a 15 year-old boy from Renton for felony assault. Two males were booked for felony vandalism, ages 16 and 17, from Tukwila and Kent, respectively.

A passenger called 9-1-1 from the bus after the assault. As the Sheriff's Office and Tukwila Police headed for the bus, two police cars collided, one from each agency. The collision occurred at South 148th Street and International Blvd.

The Tukwila officer was treated at the scene. The Sheriff's deputy, assigned to the City of SeaTac Police, was taken to Valley Medical Center. He was treated and released.