The story of the female Muni bus driver who claimed she was assaulted last weekend by a male driver in a road-rage incident in SoMa has grown more complicated, and the SFMTA's response to the incident prompted a protest Friday outside SFMTA headquarters. As KRON 4 reports, members of the advocacy group United Public Workers for Action (UPWA) are protesting what they say is unjust treatment of driver Carla Romero, who they say is now being punished for speaking out to the press about the incident.

The story has been complicated in the ensuing days by news that both Romero and the driver in the incident filed assault charges against one another, and the driver claimed Romero was the aggressor, according to CBS 5.

UPWA member Steve Zeltzer is calling for a public release of surveillance video of the incident, saying "there is a record of harassment, of bullying of San Francisco Muni transit workers in San Francisco. Many have been harassed and bullied for making health and safety complaints."

The incident happened on the morning of August 13 when Romero says received a call to return her bus, a 30-Stockton, to the yard for repair. She stopped the bus on Third Street below Mission in order to switch the trolly polls so that she could switch the bus's direction, and it was at that point that the man got out of his car to confront her.

According to Romero's account, initially given to the Examiner, the man in the vehicle was taller than her, about 5' 9", and in his mid-50's. She says, "He put his hands on me, he pushed me back," and she admits she threw a punch in her own defense and landed one on his nose. Romero was photographed with scratches on her face.

The SFPD is currently in possession of the surveillance video, and is still investigating the incident.

Meanwhile, as KRON 4 reports, "Muni has launched a campaign in conjunction with the Transport Union Workers Local 250-A aimed at the public to educate them about the dangers drivers often face." Bus and train ads will be rolling out in the next month discouraging people from assaulting Muni operators, with the hashtag #Keepthemsafe.