MTA bus driver Luis Jimenez, a 60-year-old veteran, is being hailed as a hero for his quick thinking and actions in rescuing a 5-year-old girl who was found wandering the streets of Manhattan alone. Jimenez spotted the little girl during his morning shift on the crosstown M116 bus route on the Upper West Side. Instinctively, Jimenez felt compelled to help the child, as he would want someone to assist his own children or grandchildren in a similar situation.
On the day he saw the little girl, Jimenez had contemplated calling out sick but decided to go to work. He was grateful for that decision when he noticed the child wandering alone near W. 106 Street and Broadway. Jimenez, who is guided by the motto “if you see something, say something,” took immediate action to help the girl. He kept an eye on her for about a block before instructing one of his passengers to call 911 for assistance.
Surveillance footage from the bus captured the concerned passengers watching as the girl walked along the nearby sidewalk. Jimenez then pulled over the bus and, with the help of his passengers, managed to get the girl to board while they waited for the police to arrive. Additional footage showed the girl being assisted onto the bus by an adult after she had been walking alone on the sidewalk.
It was discovered that the girl had actually left her school without anyone noticing and had made it 10 blocks away before being found. The school had reported her missing, and when the police arrived, they were able to reunite her with her family. Authorities noted that the girl had never run away from school before, but on that particular day, she had left in the hopes of purchasing a new pet fish to replace the one that had recently died.
Despite the challenging times and negative events happening worldwide, Jimenez remains optimistic. He hopes the girl was able to get her new pet fish and believes that in the face of adversity, it is essential to maintain a positive attitude and strive to make a difference in the lives of others. Jimenez’s actions in helping the girl have been commended, showcasing the impact that simple acts of kindness and compassion can have on individuals in need. As a father and a dedicated bus driver, Jimenez’s intervention in this situation highlights the importance of looking out for one another and offering assistance whenever possible.
