Philadelphia

Teen Trying to Catch SEPTA Bus Run Over, Officers Use Tourniquet to Stop Bleeding

A teen trying to catch a bus was run over at a busy North Philadelphia transportation hub and police are crediting some of their own for thinking fast to render lifesaving first aid.

The unidentified male teenager was running to catch the Route 6 bus as it was pulling out of SEPTA's Olney Transportation Center at Broad Street and Olney Avenue when he was hit around 3:30 p.m. Friday, the transportation authority and police tell NBC10.

The teen was banging on the bus door, but the driver didn't hear him and he was pulled under the vehicle as it merged onto North Broad Street, police said.

SEPTA Police Chief Thomas Nestel said the teen suffered a serious injury to his lower body, possibly a severed femoral artery. That artery is the main conduit for sending blood to a person's leg.

Police arrived before paramedics and four SEPTA Police Special Operations Officers jumped into action, using a tourniquet to stop the bleeding, Nestel said.

SEPTA Police Sgt. Roland Wilson said "training and instinct" took over once they got there.

"We went over to the gentlemen, tried to calm him down. It appeared he was going into shock and the first thing we started thinking about was 'What can we do,'" Wilson said.

Officers rushed the teen to Albert Einstein Medical Center, right down the street, for treatment. He is currently in surgery and listed in critical condition, police said.

"Really proud of their fast and effective response," Nestel tells NBC10. "Hopefully they helped to save his life."

Special Operations officers are armed with medical supplies and training to provide care to those injured before firefighters and paramedics arrive on the scene.

Surveillance video from the bus has been downloaded and given to Philadelphia Police, who are picking up the investigation.

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