AN angry passenger is considering suing First York after claiming he was injured when a driver drove off while he was still stepping off the bus.

Howard Darrell claims he suffered rib and thigh injuries when he fell into a Haxby street, after a heated argument with a bus driver.

The 51-year-old, of West Nooks, Haxby, said the incident happened late on October 5, as he was waiting in Clarence Street, York, for the service 1A to his home.

Mr Darrell alleges he was forced to take a taxi after the driver left him, and a friend, stranded in York.

Still angry, Mr Darrell told the Evening Press he waited for the bus in West Nooks, boarded it, and challenged the driver.

After she asked him to leave, Mr Darrell claimed he was getting off the bus when the driver sped away, throwing him into the street.

Mr Darrell said: "Getting to West Nooks before the bus, I decided to wait and ask the driver why she hadn't stopped in Clarence Street.

"She was immediately defensive, claiming the bus had been full and that she was 'fed up with complaints' that evening.

"After another attempt to obtain information, at the driver's request, I moved to alight from the bus.

"As I did so, the driver moved off and accelerated causing me to fall to the road. She did not stop to determine if I had been injured. I actually suffered bruising to my ribs and abrasions and bruising to my thigh, both of which have caused me considerable discomfort. I have now taken advice and am considering taking legal action against First York."

Paul Bell, First York's operations manager, said: "A statement made by our driver has completely refuted these allegations.

"As in all cases like this, we have dispatched our accident investigations officer to take statements and look at the alleged incidents."

Updated: 09:38 Saturday, October 20, 2001