Driver Honored For Bravery After Pulling Woman Stuck In Wheelchair From Burning Bus
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A Nassau County bus driver was recognized Monday, for his heroism in saving the life of a disabled woman last week.
Driver Jean Jeune jumped into action when his Nassau Inter County Express bus burst into flames. He risked his own life to save Cindy March, 54, as she sat strapped in a wheelchair on a bus and noticed smoke billowing from under the hood.
The 54-year-old Farmingdale was en route to daily physical therapy when the Nassau Inter County Express bus she and her aide were riding caught fire. She said the bottom half of the wheelchair was strapped onto the floor of the vehicle.
She's alive to tell about it, she says, thanks to her bus driver.
"We saw smoke, and then we saw the flames, and I wheeled to the back in my motorized wheelchair. We thought we could just go the lift and life would be okay. Then he was cranking it and the lift wasn't moving," March said.
Jeune moved quickly, unbuckling March's seatbelt before picking her up and carrying to a safe place, 1010 WINS' Sonia Rincon reported.
Jeune was recognized for heroism by County Executive Ed Mangano, who handed him a proclamation on Monday.
"When you pick up the passengers it's our responsibility. You have to protect them," Jeune said.
His wife Bernadine was relieved, and not surprised.
"When he tell me, I believed right away because I know he can do this. He is a brave man," she said.
