CALGARY - Calgary Transit is singing the praises of a bus driver who found himself in a peculiar situation during his Sunday morning shift.
Ravinder “Ravi” Saini was driving along northeast Route 38 about 9:30 a.m. when he noticed a small boy walking alone in his bare feet and pyjamas near the corner of Laguna Way and Anaheim Cres. N.E.
Saini said there were no adults in the vicinity, so he quickly grew concerned that the child was wandering unsupervised.
“Obviously it seemed very unsafe for the child,” said Saini, who stopped the bus and approached the little boy, but got no response when he asked the tot where his mom was.
“He didn’t understand me,” said Saini.
“He started running right behind the bus.”
The child was brought on board the bus and Saini said his 12-15 passengers waited patiently until police arrived to try and find the child’s parents.
Just before police arrived, a woman showed up at the parked bus looking for the boy.
Saini said she told him the boy’s parents were at work.
Cops confirmed the little one had ventured from his nearby home, but said he was not gone long.
“A child got out of a house for a few minutes and the babysitter was supposedly hot on the trail of the child, but apparently the bus driver saw him first,” said Calgary police Insp. Vic Trickett.
Calgary Transit spokesman Ron Collins said he’s very proud Saini reacted the way he did.
“He did what we would expect any of our employees to do, which is to come to the assistance of someone in need,” he said.
“We applaud him.”
A woman reached by phone at the residence to which the child was returned after the ordeal said the boy is two years old, but didn’t want to comment further.
Saini said though stopping to help the child isn’t part of his job description, he just wanted to make sure the boy got home safe.
“I have my own kids and I know no parents ever want anything bad to happen to their children,” he said.
“I’m very glad he’s safe and sound, hopefully with his parents.”