A New York City bus driver recently reunited with a 5-year-old girl he had rescued. The child was found walking alone on the street, searching for a new pet fish. MTA bus operator Luis Jimenez, 60, and 5-year-old Adaline “Addy” Gonzalez reunited a month after Jimenez rescued the girl when she went missing in Harlem, as reported by PEOPLE.
The reunion, attended by Addy’s parents and brother, was reported by WABC on October 21. On September 11, police responded to a 911 call about Addy, who had skipped school and was reported missing.
During their search for the missing 5-year-old girl, officers received a 911 call reporting that the child had been last seen on an eastbound M116 MTA bus.
“Officers were able to track down and stop the bus that she missing was on. EMS responded to the location and evaluated her on scene. There were no injuries reported as a result of this incident,” a New York City Police Department (NYPD) spokesperson told PEOPLE on October 15.
Jimenez told WABC that while finishing his morning shift, he spotted 5-year-old Addy alone on a sidewalk. After monitoring her for about a block, he instructed one of his passengers to call 911.
The bus driver pulled over, contacted his dispatcher, and brought 5-year-old Addy onto the bus with the help of passengers until police arrived.
Addy explained to WABC that she had snuck out of school to replace her pet fish that had died.
“We were totally, like, scared,” Addy’s mom, Julissa Gonazalez, also told the local news outlet. “We didn’t know what to think. You know, we were terrified because that’s our little girl.”
Addy’s dad, Cesar Gonzalez, added, “She’s always been very determined to do what she wants.”
Jimenez told WABC it made him feel good that Addy was reunited with her family after the incident. “I couldn’t wait to meet her and her parents because something like that should be celebrated, she was able to get home,” he said.
During their reunion, Jimenez gifted 5-year-old Addy a goldfish. Addy told WABC she planned to name her new pet “Luis” after her rescuer.
“Thank you Luis for being my hero and saving my life,” the child told the bus driver.
In return, Addy presented Jimenez with a Jets cap, which included a message calling him “Addy’s hero.”
“I love it,” a beaming Jimenez said, per WABC.
In addition to his role as a bus driver, Jimenez is a member of the Timeless Torches, a dance group that performs at New York Liberty games, according to the New York Post.
Jimenez mentioned in 2013 that this side gig helps him with his day job.
