The Saskatoon Police Service says a person was stabbed on a city bus during the commute home Wednesday. At 5:43 p.m. officers responded to the call of a person who had been stabbed on the bus at the intersection of 12th Street East and Broadway Avenue in the city’s Nutana neighbourhood. When officers arrived on scene, Medavie Health Services West and the Saskatoon Fire Department were treating the victim while the suspect had fled the scene before police arrived. An 18-year-old male is recovering in stable condition in hospital.  The Saskatoon Police Serious Assault Unit is investigating.

There are two schools located in the area including Ecole Victoria School which is Kindergarten to Grade 8 and is located between 11th and 12th Streets on Broadway Avenue. Oskayak High School is located three blocks south of the elementary school, on Broadway Avenue.

A statement from Saskatoon Transit says an increase in negative incidents on public transit is a Canada-wide issue. So far this year, Saskatoon Transit has experienced 124.5 negative interactions per one million rides. These incidents are categorized as follows; 45 per cent of them were due to intoxication, 26 per cent were caused by verbal altercations, 9 per cent were acts of aggression, both assaults and bodily fluids account for 6 per cent, 4 per cent come from harassment, 3 per cent fare dispute and 1 per cent road rage.

Because of this increase in negative incidents, uniformed Saskatoon Transit supervisors have been riding on the routes that have a greater frequency these interactions. This summer, the Saskatoon Fire Department will begin an enhanced Community Support Officers program, which involves Community Support Officers in targeted areas and on routes where incidents are occurring more frequently. The program has a targeted start date of July 1st.