From left, Rec. Sec. Shirley Martin, Sec. Treas. Carlos Bernabel, TA Surface VP Gary Rosario, Admin. VP Alexander Kemp, Bus Operator Christopher Accettulli, NYCT Pres. Demetrius Crichlow, Thomas Hopkins, 1st Vice Chair Surface Operators, NYCT EVP Dept. of Buses Frank Farrell
MARCH 6—The day Bus Operator Christopher Accettulli helped deliver a newborn, he remembers passengers leaving the bus and being alone with the mother as her water broke. He dialed 911 and took instructions to help the mother through labor, and soon Accettuli had the newborn swaddled in his uniform sweater to shield the baby girl from the January chill.
Today Accettulli recounted the remarkable story for assembled press as he was surrounded by Local 100 officers at the union hall on Montague Street to give him an award for his act of heroism. New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow was also in attendance, representing management.
Asked about what he was thinking in the moment, Accettuli recalled being worried about the baby's condition when the crying newborn quieted down. He was put at ease when paramedics arrived and told him mother and child were okay.
"It wasn't as crazy as it sounds," Accettulli said, then cracked a joke. "The next time, when I deliver twins, I'll let you know."
The plaque presented to Accettulli by Local 100 honored the Bus Operator "in recognition of extraordinary courage and presence of mind in an emergency" and his "decisive action and compassion in a crucial moment".
“What Chris Accettulli did was amazing,” said Vice President for TA Surface Gary Rosario. “In my 27-year career I've never heard of anybody delivering a baby in a bus. I'm glad it wasn't me!"
Administrative Vice President Alexander Kemp wanted the public to appreciate the street smarts bus operators bring to the job.
“This is the human component of the transit system,” said Kemp. “People talk about AI and they talk about the ability to create a harmonious world with autonomous vehicles, consider the fact that if this bus did not have a human operator, what would have been the reality in that circumstance? This is the value that transit workers add to the day-to-day operations of how our city functions."
“This human hero is the essence of how we actually function in the city.”
