Metro driver and passenger honored for heroic efforts

On Thursday, July 20, Metro Transit General Manager Kevin Desmond dropped by to honor transit operator Nathanael Chappelle. A transit operator for 29 years, Chappelle was driving the Route 2 to Madrona one recent night, with 20 passengers aboard, when he spotted someone sitting on the Spring Street railing above Interstate 5.

Chappelle stopped the bus and called Metro’s control center for help. Meanwhile, one of his passengers got off the bus and began quietly talking with the person, who was clearly upset. Together, Chappelle and the passenger tried to keep the conversation going until a police officer arrived and managed to grab the man from behind. The cool, measured response displayed by the two individuals bought enough time for help to arrive.

Equally insightful was what Chappelle did next. Sensing how upset his passengers were following the incident, the operator encouraged them to open up and talk about what had just happened – a suggestion that turned out to be just the right medicine. As they talked, Chappelle said he could see the tension ease.

Metro managers commended Chappelle and the passenger for their role in thwarting an incident that could have resulted in a devastating outcome for both the person on the overpass and motorists traveling on the freeway below. They were praised for displaying both quick thinking and deep compassion for a person clearly in trouble.

When he learned of Chappelle's actions, King County Executive Ron Sims said, "This incident vividly displayed the level of integrity and caring attitude displayed every day by so many Metro operators. Both the operator and passenger deserve our utmost respect and praise for what they did."