Detroit bus driver dies days later after posting a video ranting about a coughing passenger on his bus.
DETROIT — Officials say a Detroit bus driver, Jason Hargrove, 50 years old, who expresses is outrage in a now-viral video about a passenger coughing without attempting to cover her mouth has died of the coronavirus.
In the March 21 Facebook Live video, Hargrove, visibly shaken, describes a female passenger in her 50s who coughed several times on the bus without covering her mouth.
Hargrove said that he felt “violated.”
“This coronavirus sh@t is for real, and we out here as public workers, doing our job, trying to make an honest living to take care of our families, and but for you to get on the bus…and cough several times without covering up your mouth and you know that we in the middle of a pandemic, that lets me know that some folks don’t care.”
There’s folks dying out here because of this sh@t. Listen, I’m mad right about now, because that shit was uncalled for and I’m trying to be the professional that they want me to be, and I kept my mouth closed.”
One day after Hargrove posted his video he updated his Facebook profile picture with an icon of a bus as a reminder that he was serving on the frontlines of the pandemic: “I cannot stay home — I’m on the road 4 u.”
Hargrove felt ill about four days after posting his video on social media on March 21. The union announced Thursday that he died of complications from the virus on Wednesday, said Glenn Tolbert, the head of the Amalgamated Transit Union.
On March 17, days before Hargrove posted his video, bus drivers in the city stopped working because they did not feel enough was being done to protect them. Within 24 hours, the mayor complied with their demands by waiving fares and directing passengers to only enter and exit buses through the back doors in order to protect drivers’ health.
Mayor Mike Duggan said, “everybody in America” should watch Hargrove’s video.
“He was infected before we closed the front doors” on buses. Some of his language is graphic, but I don’t know how you can watch it and not tear up. He knew his life was being put in jeopardy … by someone who didn’t take this seriously and now he’s gone.”
A spokesperson for the Detroit Department of Transportation made an announcement from officials that they are “devastated at the loss of Jason Hargrove and our hearts go out to his family.”
“As Jason’s haunting video makes clear, we need for all members of the public to respect our drivers and avoid public transportation if they are not feeling well,” the spokesperson said. “If you are on a bus and do have to cough, keep a safe distance and please cover your mouth.”
“If you are on a bus and do have to cough, keep a safe distance and please cover your mouth. We are working closely with Jason’s family to support them and with our employees to ensure they have the resources they need during this unprecedented time.”
April 2, the union posted via Twitter mourning Hargrove’s death who had worked for the Detroit Department of Transportation since 2016. He leaves behind a wife, the union said.
Let us all take the time to send prayers for both families of Jason Hargrove and Joseph Madore, both died on the frontlines in the fight against COVID-19.
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