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Angels on Wheels: Scott County Transit employees help save client’s life
SIKESTON — They’re not in the life-saving business, but that’s exactly what Scott County Transit employees did this week after a regular client repeatedly failed to emerge from her home on a scheduled pickup.
It all begin Jan. 22, when one of the Transit’s regular passengers had eye surgery, and she had a follow-up appointment on Jan. 23, said Sherry Payne, driver supervisor for Scott County Transit. The client had made her appointments with the Transit in advance, she said.
“We went to pick her up (on Jan. 23), and our driver said she couldn’t get the client to come out, which is unusual for her,” Payne said.
Marilyn Schlosser, executive director of Scott County Transit, said generally when a driver goes to pick up a client, they usually pull up to the location and honk the vehicle horn to let the client know they’ve arrived.
“If no one comes to the door, then they go to the door and knock. If no one comes to the door, then the driver calls our office,” Schlosser said.
When Payne tried to call the client, she didn’t answer the phone, and it went to her voicemail, she said.
“We thought that was very unusual, but she also could have went to someone’s house to stay,” Payne said.
The weekend came and went, and on Monday morning — Jan. 27 — Payne, Schlosser and Shirley Jones, dispatcher for Scott County Transit, said they continued thinking about their longtime client.
“We called her and still couldn’t get an answer,” Payne said. “Still, we wondered if she had went to stay somewhere and none of the neighbors were home to ask if they had noticed anything.”
The transit employees said they grew increasingly worried.
“The one clue that kept kicking me was that her dog was there barking — and she would not leave that dog,” Schlosser said.
The employees said they continued to talk among themselves and were worried. They checked with area nursing homes and hospitals to see if they could find the client, but they had no luck.
Then Payne called Schlosser, who suggested they contact Sikeston Department of Public Safety.
At 11:56 a.m. Wednesday, the Scott County Transit employees contacted Sikeston DPS and asked them to do a wellness check on the client.
“I’m told the driver attempted to make contact, but the house was locked. They did say they heard the woman’s dog inside,” said Sikeston DPS Chief James McMillen. “The driver knew the lady well enough to know that it was unlike her to miss appointments and wouldn’t leave her dog unattended.”
DPS officers responded and were further prompted by Scott County Transit, fearing that she may be inside in distress. After hearing pleas from the SCTA, Sikeston DPS forced entry into the home.
“Once inside, the officer immediately located the 72-year-old lady lying in the floor. It appeared she had fallen and struck her head. It was suspected that her diabetes may have contributed to this issue. The lady was breathing but not alert,” McMillen said.
New Madrid County Ambulance was immediately dispatched to the home and she was transported to Missouri Delta Medical Center for treatment.
It isn’t known how long the woman had been there, but it is believed to have been more than a few days, McMillen said. Police were able to secure the home and temporarily turn her dog over to Pet and Animal Welfare Services, or PAWS, for safe keeping.
“If not for the persistence and personal knowledge of the Scott County Transit, this situation would likely have had a very sad ending,” McMillen said.
But the Transit employees said they were just listening to their hearts.
“We knew that something was wrong,” Jones said.
Payne noted the client always answered the phone and was always there for appointments.
“She never misses appointments,” she said.
Schlosser said her employees know their clients and when something is off with them.
“We don’t only just transport; we actually care about our people,” Payne said. “...Thank God we got to her in time,” Payne said.
Jones agreed.
“We’re glad she’s alive,” Jones said.
Schlosser said she’s so proud of her employees as well as Sikeston DPS and its chief.
“Sikeston can be proud of the great department of public safety service they have,” Schlosser said.
Schlosser noted the recent incident marked the second time the Transit employees helped save one of their passengers’ lives.
“A couple months ago one of the drivers was taking a lady home and looked up and saw her slumped over in her seat and he said to her daughter who was also a passenger: ‘Is she OK?’ He called into dispatch and calmed him down and he was able to do what he had to do. Moved her head to where her airway was clear and she could breathe,” Schlosser said.
The employees said they truly care about their clients.
“When you talk to passengers on the phone, you feel like you’re part of the family because they tell you everything, so you kin of know about them,” Payne said.
And a lot of them are lonely, Jones added.
Schlosser joked the Transit’s motto should be: “Angels on Wheels.”
“We were just doing what our heart told us to do,” Payne said.
Scott County Transit serves all residents of Scott County. The office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and can be reached at (573) 472-3030.