Nassau County Honors Driver Who Saved Disabled Woman From Burning Bus

Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano honored a Nassau Inter-County Express bus driver for his quick-thinking actions that allowed him to pull a disabled passenger to safety before the bus burst into flames in Plainview last week.

Mangano presented Jean Jeune with a proclamation and declared Monday, June 13 "Jean Jeune Day" in his honor.

“We honor Jean as a Good Samaritan and proclaim this day in his honor,” Mangano said in a press release. “Jean used all the safety and training knowledge he learned at NICE Bus to carry out this heroic act, and we recognize the entire NICE organization for their efforts.”

Jeune was transporting a woman in a wheelchair when flames began shooting from the bus’ engine Thursday, June 9 at 2:30 p.m. in front of Parkway Elementary School.

Jenue noticed that the vehicle's wheelchair lift had lost its power, so he quickly picked up the woman and carried her to safety moments before the bus was engulfed in flames. Read more about the rescue here.

"Jean's quick actions and lack of concern for his own safety without a doubt saved this lady's life," Plainview Fire Department deputy Robert Salerno said.

County Legislator Rose Marie Walker, NICE Bus President and CEO Mike Setzer and Director of the Office for the Physically Challenged Matthew Dwyer also recognized Jeune for his efforts.

Image via Office of Ed Mangano