Bus Driver Rescues Crying Baby Wandering Barefoot Near Freeway
A Milwaukee bus driver is being hailed for rescuing a baby girl found wandering alone one the streets of Milwaukee's south side - and the entire episode was captured on camera.
Milwaukee County Transit System officials say just before 8 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 22, bus driver Irena Ivic spotted the toddler wandering alone on a freeway overpass near 4th and Mitchell in frigid tempatures. The child was barefoot - and wearing just a onesie and diaper.
Ivic stopped her bus, ran across the street, and picked up the little girl.
"Oh my God, I was so upset," she told. "Baby was so scared and cried."
The baby girl was unharmed. Ivic then called authorities and the child fell asleep in her arms as they arrived on the scene.
"I couldn't believe that somebody left the child on the street," Ivic said.
Hasan Ali Abdul Kasim, the baby's father. He said he believes his wife, who he says has a mental illness, took the baby to the church just across the freeway and forgot about her. When he saw the police gathered near his home, and noticed his daughter was not there, he ran outside.
Authorities eventually reunited the baby girl with her father.
No charges were filed in the case.
On Thursday afternoon, Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele and MCTS officials honored Ivic. Abele called her actions "humanity at its best."
"She did a lot more than her job. She did the right thing," Abele said. "I don't take that kind of compassion for granted.
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