A routine run on Route 35 turned into a life-or-death moment Wednesday for a Milwaukee County Transit System bus operator now being hailed as a hero. Milwaukee County Transit System identified the driver as Shalandria K. in a Facebook post and said that while she was behind the wheel of her Route 35 bus, she saw a hit-and-run that left a child injured, alerted dispatch right away and helped make sure the child received medical care. The agency credited her quick thinking with saving the child’s life and publicly thanked her for stepping in.
According to Milwaukee County Transit System, the operator “alerted dispatch” after witnessing the hit-and-run, and the child “received medical care.” The post added a clear message of gratitude: “thanks to Shalandria for saving a child’s life after a hit-and-run.”
What MCTS Says Happened
In its Facebook post, MCTS explained that the incident unfolded while Shalandria was actively operating Route 35. After spotting the hit-and-run, she immediately contacted dispatch so help could be sent to the scene, according to Milwaukee County Transit System. The agency said the child received medical attention but did not share any information about police action or possible suspects. The post called her out by name and credited her quick response with helping save a young life.
MCTS Drivers Stepping Up as First Responders
This is not the first time an MCTS operator has ended up in the role of unexpected first responder. The agency’s “MCTS Excellence” page is full of stories of operators, including Route 35 drivers, who have called dispatch and worked alongside Public Safety Officers and Milwaukee police to protect children and other vulnerable riders. Those accounts highlight how drivers act as the eyes and ears of the city and follow set protocols when something goes wrong, according to MCTS. Riders and community members often credit those fast moves with stopping already-bad situations from becoming worse.
Hit-and-Run Danger on Milwaukee Streets
Hit-and-run crashes remain a serious concern in Milwaukee, and some past cases have ended in tragedy. Reporters recently documented a deadly hit-and-run that killed a 4-year-old and drew an intensive police response, according to reporting by TMJ4. Incidents like that underscore why immediate action from witnesses and first responders at the scene can be critical…