NYC Bus Driver Hailed a Hero for Saving 5-Year-Old Girl Walking Alone

NYC Bus Driver Hailed a Hero for Saving 5-Year-Old Girl Walking Alone

Luis Jimenez, a veteran MTA bus driver, is being praised for his quick thinking and compassionate actions after he spotted a young girl walking alone on the streets of Manhattan's Upper West Side.

Jimenez, 60, noticed the 5-year-old girl darting from the sidewalk into the street near W. 106 Street and Broadway, and his instincts as a father kicked in. He suspected something was wrong and decided to investigate.

It turned out the girl had skipped school to go to the pet store after her fish died. Her school, located about 10 blocks away, had reported her missing.

"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," Jimenez told ABC 7 New York.

Jimenez, who has a strong sense of duty and always follows the MTA's motto, "If you see something, say something," decided to take action. He watched the girl for a block, called 911, and then pulled over his bus. With the help of passengers, he brought the girl onboard and waited for the police to arrive.

Police eventually reunited the girl with her family. Despite the incident, the girl had no history of running away from school; the loss of her pet fish had prompted her to skip class and seek a replacement.

Jimenez, who had considered calling out sick that day, is glad he didn't. His quick thinking and compassionate actions demonstrate the importance of looking out for each other, especially in a city as bustling as New York.