by Lou Young
NEW YORK (CBS) - Police are searching for a man who left a baby in a livery cab Thursday morning in Queens before vanishing.
Investigators say the male passenger got into the cab around 9:45 a.m. with a baby girl at 106th Street and Northern Boulevard in Jackson Heights. When the car reached 83rd Street and Northern, the man asked the driver to pull over so he could make a phone call.
After the driver pulled over, the man got out, left the baby, and vanished.
The driver then rushed the infant to the nearest firehouse - Engine 289 - in the Corona section of the borough. Firefighters took care of the baby, even changing her diaper.
"The baby was well taken care of," Lt. James Lofaso said. "They left a bag with clothes, diapers, formula, a bottle. The baby was happy, a beautiful little girl.
"One of the EMS personnel was surprised. 'You changed her diapers?' A lot of us are fathers here. We've changed lots of diapers."
Firefighters eventually transported the girl to St. John's Queens Hospital where she's said to be in good condition.
"Of course it's a very sad event when you see on the chart 'abandoned baby,'" Dr. Kenneth Berry said. "Of course, it's also a joyful event when you see her smiling at you."
Hospital executive director Annette Hastings agreed.
"I think about 800 women would want to take her home," Hastings said.
The driver, Kleaver Sailema, will be given a reward by his fellow livery drivers for his quick thinking. On Thursday night he helped police artists come up with a sketch of the man in his cab. He's described as Hispanic and in his 20s.
"The New York Federation of Taxi Drivers is going to give Mr. Sailema $300 to say thanks for what [he] did," said union spokesman Fernando Mateo.
Commissioner Matthew Daus said Sailema will be honored at the TLC's annual Driver Recognition Ceremony in late March.
In the meantime, police continue to search for the infant's parents.
If you know who the child belongs to, you're urged to call detectives at the 115th Precinct.
The baby will be turned over to the Administration for Children's Services, which will try to track down any family members.
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