A heroic MTA bus driver is being praised after he spotted a little girl walking alone on the streets of New York and bringing her to safety.
60-year-old Luis Jimenez, was finishing his morning shift when he noticed a five-year-old girl walking by herself on the sidewalk near 160th Street and Broadway on Tuesday afternoon, as per a Daily Mail report.
“We have a saying in the MTA: if you see something, say something,” Jimenez told ABC 7. “Well, with me, I do something,” he added with a smile.
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The Harlem resident monitored the girl through his front window for about a block before he finally decided to pull over.
He then called his dispatcher and asked a passenger to contact 911 so the girl is quickly brought to safety.
With help also from others on the bus, Jimenez was able to get the little girl, who was still holding her school bag, safely onto the bus.
Interestingly, the girl’s school had reported her missing after she failed to show up to class.
Although the five-year-old had no history of skipping school, the kindergartener had decided to go to a pet store that day, as she was determined to replace her pet fish, who had recently died.
By the time Jimenez spotted her, the girl had already walked 10 blocks from the school.
The heroic bus driver, who initially planned to call out sick that morning, said he is grateful actually decided to work that day, as his quick instincts ensured the child was eventually returned to her family safely.
“My instinct as a father kicked in because if I see a kid in the street needing help, I would want someone to help one of my children or grandkids,” Jimenez said.
Jimenez is a 26-year veteran of the NYC transit system, and works from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. on various routes, meeting new people throughout the city.
Born and raised in Washington Heights, he is known for treating many of his passengers like friends.
“He always tries to make all the customers feel good when he’s driving,” a regular rider told CBS News in 2021.
However, this isn’t the first time Jimenez has been recognized for his dedication.
During the pandemic back in 2021, he worked 12-hour shifts to transport essential workers to and back from work across the city.
His commitment then earned him a spot in the Super Bowl Pregame Show, where he represented New York City’s essential workers.
“New York doesn’t stop,” he told CBS News at the time. “We move New York. If we stop, New York stops.”
In 2023, the New York Liberty basketball team also honored Jimenez during Black History Month, for his outstanding contributions to the community.
When Jimenez isn’t behind the wheel, he is mostly found dancing for the Timeless Torches, the New York Liberty’s dance team for men and women over 40.
“Driving in New York City is like a perfect day,” Jimenez told The Art of Doing. “I open up that door, and it’s like the world comes to me. I love my passengers. I want to give them the best ride, the best time, the best view of the city while I get them to where they’re going.”
As for the little girl, it is unclear as to whether she got the new pet fish she wanted, yet Jimenez insisted that if she didn’t, the community would surely help her replace it.
“Times are hard, and things happen every day,” Jimenez said. “But we have to go in with a positive attitude and make a difference.”
For the heroic bus driver, these are the kind of actions his community needs, and he is set to continue to inspire other young drivers through his good deeds in the months ahead.
