MaBSTOA V.P. Donald Yates Commends Bus Operator Raynell Cody

 

 

SEPTEMBER 29 -- Thanks to the alertness and quick-thinking of one of our Bus Operators from West Farms, a mother and newborn baby – who arrived into this world on the bus – received near-immediate medical care, Yates reports. 

 

“To this Brother, I want to say ‘Thank you for your service,’ Yates said. “This is just a fraction of what we do as transit workers. I’m very proud.”

Here’s the story:

 

A pregnant woman boarded Cody’s westbound bus at 161st St. and River Avenue in the Bronx on Tuesday and took a seat towards the rear with other passengers. He continued on his 103/Bx6 route and headed towards the Macombs Dam Bridge near Yankee Stadium. 

 

Suddenly, there was panic in the back of the bus.

 

 

Passengers started yelling, “Driver! Stop the bus. The baby’s head is coming out!”

 

Cody, a military veteran, remained calm. He recalled seeing an EMS ambulance parked back where he just came from: 161st St. and River Ave. Instead of heading over the bridge, he quickly turned onto the east-bound roadway and headed back to the intersection.

 

“Last stop! Last stop!,” he called out to the passengers while pressing the console button.

 

He checked on the woman, who was holding her baby, and sprinted to the ambulance. The EMS crew was on another call and tried to deflect Cody with instructions to call for another ambulance. But he persisted – and pointed to the new mother, who by then was leaning against a building wall with her child.

 

“They quickly made this situation a priority,” Cody said. “They put the mother and child in the ambulance, and started to do what they needed to do." 

 

Cody credited is 6-years active duty in the U.S. Navy Reserves with preparing him for the crisis.  

 

“One thing they always told you in the service, was not to panic. I wanted to remain calm so the woman remained calm and the other people on the bus remained calm."