From Albuquerque! "Transit driver rescues ill woman," by Tim Maestas

This story originally appeared on KRQE.com at this address: http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/health/health_krqe_albuquerque_transit_driver_rescues_ill_woman_200902041745. This link no longer exists. A copy of the original story appears below.


A city transit driver may have saved the life of an elderly woman discovered early Wednesday passed out and bleeding inside her northwest Albuquerque apartment.

Geneva Chavez, 81, was listed in critical condition as of Wednesday afternoon.

“I just hope she’s doing OK,” transit driver Pat Gurulé told KRQE News 13. “Paramedics and all responded fairly quickly.”

Gurulé works for Sun Van, a division of ABQ Ride that provides para-transit service to people with medical disabilities.

Chavez usually waited outside for the Sun Van that pulled in to pick her up three times a week to take her for dialysis, Gurulé said. But Wednesday morning she wasn’t there.

“I waited a couple of minutes, and her neighbor came out,” Gurulé said.

Minutes after he pulled up at the apartment complex, one of Chavez’s neighbors went to check on her. “The door was open so I just walked in, because I knew something was wrong,” neighbor Liz Walters said. “She was laying on the floor.”

Chavez was bleeding on her living room floor, added Walters who stayed with her friend and neighbor until Gurulé showed up at the front door.

“At that time we definitely determined she needed medical attention,” Gurulé said. He contacted ABQ Ride dispatchers who then called 911.

City Transit Director Greg Payne told KRQE News 13, Gurulé went above and beyond the call of duty.

“We have people who no-show, or miss their appointments for their rides all the time,” Payne said. “For Pat to really take the interest to find out what was going on speaks well of him as a driver, and we couldn’t be more proud.” Gurulé has driven for Sun Van for 14 years, but Wednesday morning’s emergency situation was a first, he said. Asked if she was glad Gurulé was there, Walters replied, “Oh God yes.”
http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/health/health_krqe_albuquerque_transit_driver_rescues_ill_woman_200902041745