A bus driver has been commended for his quick thinking after noticing a child walking alone about 10 blocks from her school.
Luis Jimenez, a New York MTA bus driver, was on duty in September when he noticed a young girl walking by herself on the sidewalk.
Jimenez had almost considered calling in sick that day, but fortunately, he decided to work.
During his route, he saw 5-year-old Adaline ‘Addy’ Gonzalez seemingly on her own, prompting his paternal instincts to take over. He monitored the girl for approximately a block before instructing a passenger to dial 911.
He then halted his bus and, with assistance from other passengers, managed to get the young girl onboard.
In a conversation with local news reporters about the event, Jimenez stated: “My instinct as a father came on because if I see a kid in the street in need of help, I would want somebody to help one of my children or one of my grandkids.
“You know, my wife always, you know, kind of like she’s worried about me because she knows that when I see something, it’s like we have a saying in the MTA, ‘if you see something, say something.’ Oh, well, with me, I will do something.”
Law enforcement eventually reached the scene and ensured the girl was safely returned to her family.
Remarkably, Addy had decided to skip school to visit a pet store to buy a new fish after her pet fish passed away that morning. She hadn’t informed her parents of her plan and had no previous incidents of leaving school unattended.
Adding a heartwarming touch to the story, Addy and Jimenez were brought together again shortly after the event, where she expressed a touching message to him.
She said: “Thank you Luis, for being my hero and saving my life.”
In gratitude, the family presented the bus driver with a New York Jets hat that read ‘Addy’s Hero.’
During their reunion, they even shared a joyful dance together, clearly in good spirits.
Reflecting on meeting Addy again, he said: “It made me feel so good. My heart was pumping. I couldn’t wait to meet her and her parents because something like that should be celebrated. She was able to go home.”
In the end, Addy did acquire her new fish, and she selected a fitting name for it.
She shared: “I decided to name my new fish Luis. I was excited and I was happy and it was perfect.”