Boston Herald | Laurel J. Sweet | October 15, 2013

A cop robot fell out the back of a Boston Police Department Bomb Squad truck that hit a Massachusetts Avenue pothole this morning — but an eagle-eyed T bus driver rescued the device, authorities said.

“It appears the rear door of one of the department’s bomb squad trucks popped open when it hit a pothole or bump on Mass Avenue this morning. One of the robots fell out. The truck has been taken out of service to check the locking mechanism. The robot was tested and is not damaged,” Boston police spokeswoman Cheryl Fiandaca told the Herald.

“We are appreciative that a quick thinking MBTA bus driver saw the incident happen and called the Transit Police. The department got the equipment back within minutes,” she said.

The robot hit the ground near Victoria’s Diner at Massachusetts Avenue and Shirley Street around 6:30 a.m., MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo said.

“The bus operator pulled over, and immediately notified his dispatcher on the radio,” Pesaturo said. “The dispatcher notified Transit Police, who asked the bus operator to stay at the scene until police arrived. Police arrived a short time later, and then the Route 10 bus continued on its way.”

Pesaturo said the bus was carrying passengers at the time.