Boston Herald | By John Zaremba | Sunday, March 10, 2013

An MBTA bus driver was pummeled by up to 15 attackers while on his route in Dorchester early yesterday, MBTA cops said.

The victim, identified as a 53-year-old man, was driving the Route 16 bus on Columbia Road at Geneva Avenue about 1:15 a.m. when a group of 10 to 15 youths boarded and began punching him, said MBTA police Superintendent in Chief Joseph O’Connor.

Cops are investigating but so far are baffled as to the motive.

“We have seen an uptick in assaults on bus operators, but typically they involve disputes over fares,” O’Connor said.

“In this case, it’s highly unusual.”

The driver was treated on scene.

There is no video, but police have spoken to several witnesses.