Knox Area Transit driver awarded for lifesaving efforts

MOUNT VERNON – Knox Area Transit (KAT) recently recognized one of their drivers, Kim Weiss, with a commendation for his lifesaving efforts and exemplary public service.

In November, Weiss, a part-time shuttle driver, helped an older woman in distress during one of his routes.

“Mr. Weiss’s attentiveness and concern for the community is greatly appreciated,” Martin McAvoy, transit director for Knox Area Transit, told the Mount Vernon News in a written statement. “He is one of many drivers at Knox Area Transit that not only provide transportation services; but provide an added level of attention in the areas they serve. Our drivers are additional eyes in the community who report unusual circumstances they encounter. In this particular incident, I am very glad and proud to have such drivers as Mr. Weiss working for Knox Area Transit.”

Weiss said that what he did was only what anyone else would have done.

“When I pulled up to the bookstore, you could see down the alley there was a lady laying on the ground with a dog beside her, so I just went down there to see if I could help and that’s all I basically did,” Weiss told the News.

The woman was unable to stand. Weiss stayed with her until paramedics arrived, giving her his coat to keep warm as she lay immobile in the cold night air.

“We helped slide her onto a gurney and then lifted the stretcher into their truck,” Weiss said.

Paramedics determined she likely had broken her hip, he said.  Apparently, she had gotten tangled in the dog’s leash which caused her to fall.

“I was kind of surprised with the commendation, but it was nice,” Weiss said.

No one told Weiss he was getting an award, so it was indeed a surprise.

“I didn’t realize they had somebody running my route that evening, so I missed an hour of driving while [McAvoy] was giving me the commendation and shaking my hand, I guess; so that was very kind, very kind,” he said. “Nice folks.”

Weiss’s full-time job is teaching woodworking and welding in Centerburg, but he started driving three nights a week for KAT a year and a half ago. 

“My parents were kind of handicapped, and I see these big handicap stickers on these buses and that’s kind of what I guess enticed me to start driving for them, so it’s kind of fun,” he said. “I do enjoy driving the bus.”