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

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."