Man charged after bus driver allegedly wounded in Charlestown

newy.com.au -A 23-year-old man has been charged after a bus driver was allegedly punched and wounded with a knife on a bus on the Pacific Highway at Charlestown, late on Wednesday night. Emergency services were called to the scene shortly after 11pm on February 25, 2026, following reports of the assault. Police were told that a passenger punched the driver before striking his hand with a knife and fleeing the scene. NSW Ambulance paramedics treated the driver at the location before transporting him to John Hunter Hospital for further assessment.

Officers from the Police Transport Command North Central began inquiries and later stopped to speak with a man at a bus stop on nearby Pearson Avenue. During the attempted arrest, police allege the man punched an officer in the face and tried to flee. Following a brief foot pursuit, the man was taken into custody and transported to Belmont Police Station.

The man has been charged with being armed with intent to commit an indictable offence, reckless wounding, hindering or resisting police, assaulting a police officer, and failing to comply with a direction. He was refused bail and was scheduled to appear before Bail Division Court 2 on Thursday, February 26, 2026.