NEW YORK—Cab driver Sergio Castillo was honored on Friday for saving a family of ducks from a dangerous walk in the park. One week earlier, a mother mallard crossed a busy Park Avenue with her ducklings trailing behind her. Castillo, a cab driver of 22 years, stopped immediately after seeing the ducklings coming across his path.
"The babies went under my car," Castillo said. "I put my hat down under my car and they all jumped in my hat. It surprised me!"
His passenger, an elderly lady, was very considerate of the situation as well and waited for him, but his abrupt stop in the middle of the road held up traffic and caused quite a ruckus behind him.
"There was honking, there was honking!" Castillo said, "There was 'Move your car! Move your car!'"
Castillo was presented a plaque by Matthew Daus, Taxi and Limousine Commissioner.
"I never thought we'd be at a press conference about ducks," laughed Daus. "The only thing we have in common is the color yellow."
The plaque, a certificate of appreciation awarded to Castillo for his outstanding display of humanity, is just a precursor to the Taxi and Limousine Commission's acknowledging Castillo at their annual Driver Recognition Ceremony next year.
"I can't think of a more compassionate person," Daus said. "And he has an exemplary record. Thank you Sergio, for saving these ducks and for making sure these mallards didn't encounter any maladies. [He] is exactly the kind of person we want behind the wheel of a New York City taxicab."
Urban Park Ranger Sunny Corrado, whom the ducklings were handed over to as Castillo had a passenger, made an appearance to thank Castillo as well. "Mama duck was going to just continue on her way and we couldn't catch her; she had a lot of street smarts, she wasn't going to walk into any of our traps."
Corrado thanked Castillo for picking up the ducklings and getting the attention of the mother duck, who jumped up and quacked when she looked back and saw her ducklings had been caught.
Mike Alvich, Vice President of Sales and Marketing of Gray Line New York Sightseeing and NYC Ducks Tours' mascot Captain Henry attended to thank Castillo as well.
"Any friend of ducks is a friend of NYC Ducks," Alvich said, presenting him and his family with free passes for NYC Duck Tours and Duck Quackers. "We are inspired by Sergio Castillo, a person who took the extra step and demonstrated an act of exceptional kindness. On the behalf of Gray Line we want to thank you for your wonderfully humane and lovely gesture. It says a lot about New Yorkers and how they really care about things that are important. Thank you on behalf of all the ducks; if you love a duck, we love you too."
Castillo was delighted with the honors, and mentioned he wanted to see the ducklings.
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