Hero passengers jump into action during bus driver's medical emergency
KDVR Fox 31
COLORADO SPRINGS (KXRM) — Two passengers are being hailed as heroes after they jumped into action when their bus driver began to experience a medical emergency in Colorado Springs, and now Mountain Metropolitan Transit is looking to reward their courage.
On Monday, Oct. 14 at around 8:30 a.m., a bus driver on Route 1 'Hillside - Hancock Plaza' suffered a medical emergency.
"Despite the efforts of emergency responders, the driver passed away," MMT wrote on Facebook on Oct. 14.
According to an article by Fox News, video footage from inside the bus showed two passengers rushing to the front as the driver fell from his seat. One of the passengers took over the wheel and was heard radioing a dispatcher to report the emergency, claiming the driver was having a seizure; while the other checked on the driver and asked if he was all right.
"Thanks to the efforts of a quick-thinking passenger who took control of the wheel, the bus was safely stopped near Academy and Astrozon Boulevards," wrote MMT, who added that no passengers were injured during the incident. At the time of the emergency, there were three passengers inside the bus, according to Fox News.
Elaine Sheridan, an MMT spokesperson, told Fox News Digital that the agency has the name of the passenger who took over the bus but has not been able to contact him to get permission to disclose his identity. The other passenger left the scene before first responders arrived because he needed to get to work.
MMT wants the passengers to reach out as the agency wants to reward their assistance that morning.
"We have publicly requested that these passengers contact us because we would like to provide them with passes as a token of our appreciation," Sheridan said.
The bus driver's name has not been disclosed due to HIPAA regulations, according to Fox News, and the driver's family has requested privacy.
Earlier this month, on Oct. 12, another bus driver on Route 9 'Nevada - UCCS' was involved in a crash at an intersection on Austin Bluffs Parkway. The driver received medical attention and was later released from the hospital.
"Fortunately, no passengers were injured in either incident, but these events have had a significant emotional impact on our driver community," wrote MMT. "As a result, there may be some disruptions to service while our drivers process these experiences. We kindly ask for your understanding and compassion during this challenging period."