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Oklahoma City resident tells COPTA Embark refused to produce correct bus video after March injury; requests staff review
Summary
Dawn Washington told the Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority she was injured on an Embark bus March 11, says she later needed a hip replacement and that Embark has provided an incorrect video. Board members asked staff to investigate.
Dawn Washington, a resident who recently moved to Oklahoma City, told the Central Oklahoma Transportation and Parking Authority during its Aug. 1 trustee meeting that she was injured while boarding an Embark bus on March 11 and that Embark has refused to produce the correct video of the incident.
Washington said she moved to Oklahoma City Jan. 1 to seek an orthopedic specialist and had been riding local buses to visit family. She said that on March 11, while using a walker and attempting to take a seat on Route 10, the bus “took off” prematurely and threw her into the seat. She said the impact produced a large hematoma and caused such pain that emergency medical personnel transported her to the emergency room.
Washington said the injury later required a hip replacement. She said Embark’s initial response to her complaint—according to her account—was to tell her the video showed she was seated when the bus took off. Washington said she disputed that and that her first attorney received a different video than the one she says shows the injury. After a second attorney requested the footage, Washington said, Embark again provided the same video she said did not show the incident.
“I corrected him, and I I told him, I said, ‘no, sir. I was not in the seat,’” Washington said, recounting a phone exchange with an Embark caller. She added that after she called 911 on the day of the incident the driver returned to the stop, apologized and told her the driver had filed an injury report.
Washington said she has discussed the matter with state senators and representatives and that they recommended she present her account to the COPTA trustees. At the meeting, a COPTA official said staff would look into the incident.
“Okay. Well, we appreciate you coming, and, I’ll let staff look into it and hopefully get a resolution for you, and I’m sorry about your accident,” an unnamed meeting officer said.
Washington concluded by saying the response she received from Embark and the apparent unwillingness to provide the requested video raised concerns about whether other riders had suffered similar treatment.
The meeting record does not include a response from Embark beyond the account provided by Washington; board members directed staff to follow up and try to assist the speaker.
