A Milwaukee bus driver went above the call of duty when she stopped to save an unlikely would-be passenger: a baby, CNN reported on Friday.

Irena Ivic, who is originally from the town of Prokuplje in Serbia, was driving on a freeway overpass on December 22 when she spotted a barefoot baby, wearing a red onesie and a diaper, walking quickly to an intersection in freezing weather.  

A video released by the Milwaukee County Transit System showed the bus stopping and Ivic running out to scoop up the toddler and carry it back to the bus. She sat down in the driver’s seat and a passenger gave up her coat to keep the baby warm.  

The 19-month-old had been cold and scared but was otherwise unharmed, local police said. A transit system said the child went missing after the mother had what officials described as a mental health crisis. “Authorities eventually reunited the baby with its father,”

Milwaukee County Transit System spokesman Matt Sliker said.   Speaking at a commendation ceremony in her honour, Ivic said she was “grateful I was in the right place at the right time”. “I absolutely love kids. I used to be a teacher and I have children of my own, so I'm so happy I was able to help this sweet, innocent baby,” Ivic said.