Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Watch MTA Bus Driver Make Amazing Save, Catching Girl In Three-Story Fall
By
John Del Signore
Published Jul 17, 2012
Modified Jul 17, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
John Del Signore
Published Jul 17, 2012
Modified Jul 17, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
An off-duty city bus driver was walking home to his Coney Island apartment yesterday afternoon when he spotted a 7-year-old girl with no pants on standing on top of an air conditioning unit three stories up. Amateur video taken at the housing complex shows Stephen St. Bernard, a 10-year MTA veteran, standing on the ground looking up at the girl, who does not appear to comprehend the danger she's in. At about the 40 second mark, she falls, and St. Bernard catches her:
View more videos at: http://nbcnewyork.com.
The unidentified girl, who, according to police, has autism, was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. Her mother declined to speak with reporters, but St. Bernard, who tore a tendon in his shoulder catching the girl, is being hailed a hero by NBC New York. He tells the news outlet, "She just stood up there teetering, teetering... 'Please let me catch her, please let me catch her.' That's all I could say. Let me catch the little baby."
And the best Bart's People quote of all comes from St. Bernard's 7-year-old daughter, who adorably tells NBC New York, "The child was like almost like my age, so like he always carries me, so I guess he'd probably be able to catch her."
Tagged
barts people
coney island
MTA
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Man shot and killed on Midtown subway platform Saturday afternoon, NYPD says
Police said they're searching for a person of interest.
By
Ryan Kost
and
Elizabeth Kim
Published Oct 17, 2026
Modified Oct 17, 2026 at 4:10 p.m. ET
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
Suspects were driving a Subaru Forester, police said.
By
Ryan Kost
News
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
Suspects were driving a Subaru Forester, police said.
By
Ryan Kost
Being reigning champions is weird for Knicks fans, but we could get used to this.
By
Catalina Gonella
Tompkins Square Park is getting a makeover. Some say it's too much.
By
Willow Higgins
Deer are all over New Jersey roads looking for sex, state officials warn
By
Rosemary Misdary
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .