Hometown Hero Keeps Passengers Safe

Megan Reyna introduces us to a public bus driver and hometown hero.

Bus drivers are on the front line in the fight against coronavirus.

They're often in the line of danger without even knowing it!

Today, waay 31's megan reyna introduces us a huntsville public bus driver and hometown hero.

Nats worrell says:" in public transit, you're always prepared for anything and everything."

Don worrell came out of retirement two years ago to do what he loves nats get people from point a to point b nats safely.

Worrell says:"i came up here because my mother is up here, to be close to mom and i said, you know what let me do what i do best, and that's public transit."

But when coronavirus hit -- worrell became a bit anxious -- about his passenger's safety -- and his own.

Fortunately -- worrell said it didn't take long for huntsville transit to put new protocols in place.

Nats and one passenger, in particular, specifically noticed worrell's efforts.

Fisher says:" he set the bar, and not only did he set the bar.

He was the first to appear to take it seriously."

John fisher often relies on public transportation.

As a 73-year-old -- he's considered at high risk for coronavirus.

Fisher says:"it started to make me take this pandemic seriously."

Brown says::"the services we provide is critical to people who are going to work, going shopping, going to medical appointments, things like that, so its critical to continue the service."

Every morning --the buses are sprayed with disinfectants.

Only 10 passengers are allowed on a bus even though it seats more than 20.

Masks are required -- and have been since before the state-wide mandate.

Worrell says:"yeah, it was a trying time, but we worked through it, i don't know if you know or not but every time a bus comes through, we have a cleaning crew.

They spray it down, they wipe it down."

Worrell was shocked he was even noticed by a passenger for his work -- but his boss -- tommy brown wasn't.

He believes all the drivers deserve recognition.

Brown says:"our drivers are also heroes of a sort to us because they're required to provide necessary transportation."

Fisher says:"i've thanked him a number of times, because i think he saved a lot of people's lives."

In huntsville, megan reyna nats waay 31 news huntsville's public transit has stayed open during this entire pandemic -- even though there has