Brave Dudley bus driver given award for coolness during robbery
A Black Country bus driver has been honoured with a special accolade for unsung heroes after her actions during a robbery led to the arrest of three men.
Tracey Evans, who is based in Pensnett, won the outstanding citizen award from the West Midlands and Police Crime Commissioner.
The 42-year-old National Express West Midlands bus driver was driving the 126 between Birmingham and Dudley when she saw a customer was being robbed and assaulted on the top deck.
She immediately pressed her panic button to alert the company's control room, who then contacted West Midlands Police.
She stayed calm throughout the incident and continued to drive the bus so that the offenders involved did not know the police were on the way. But brave Tracey kept an eye on the cameras to make sure her passengers were safe, while relaying information on her location to police.
Once officers arrived and stopped the bus, Tracey identified one of the offenders who had tried to conceal his identity. She also pointed out the other two perpetrators to the officers.
When they were arrested, the police found that the men were carrying a hammer and a knife.
She joined other unsung heroes from across the region at the annual Outstanding Citizen Awards on July 11.
Tracey said: "I felt so privileged to be invited to the awards ceremony and get the chance to meet so many other people who were nominated for their bravery and their actions within the community.
"I am delighted to have been named as an outstanding citizen. I was just doing my job so it’s really lovely to be recognised.”
Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said: "Tracey’s extraordinary act of bravery helped prevent serious harm to a member of the public.
“Her courage went above and beyond her duty as a bus driver. She put the safety of others before herself, to ensure the offenders were apprehended.
“Tracey is a credit to National Express West Midlands and this award is our chance to say thank you.”
West Midlands Police arresting officer, Pc Burrows, added: "It is without doubt that Tracey’s decisive thinking, calm instructions – without suspicion – and her heroic actions in identifying the offenders helped to secure the arrests.”
