Child, 3, Found Walking On 210 Freeway In San Bernardino Saved By Good Samaritans
SAN BERNARDINO (CBSLA.com) — Officials say a 3-year-old child was spotted walking on the 210 Freeway Saturday morning.
The child was reportedly trying to walk across the freeway near State Street.
A Good Samaritan is credited with pulling the child, a boy, to safety.
A local newspaper identified the Good Samaritan as Juan Jose Panameno Castro of Pomona. He was driving with his 15-year-old son when they apparently spotted the boy on the road.
He told the Sun news he was astonished no one else stopped to help.
The toddler went on a walk this morning without his parents' knowledge. The freeway is about a half mile from the family home.
KCAL9's Jennifer Kastner spoke to the family about their ordeal.
The little boy is home and doing just fine.
But, it's incredible to think of what could have happened earlier today.
"His guardian angel was just with him and that's what kept him from going into the cars," said Veronica Villegas, the boy's aunt.
According to police, the boy's parents reported him missing around 8:30 a.m..
Neighbors helped the boy's parents in a frantic search around the neighborhood.
"They were all looking for him, everywhere and I was looking for him too and then the police arrived," said Villegas.
The Good Samaritans thought they were seeing a dog on the road.
"I thought it was a dog then when I saw him closer, I said oh my gosh, it's a kid," said Castro's 15-year-old son.
"We were shocked, we were really shocked that's very unusual to see a kid on the freeway just walking out like that," he added.
The two Samaritans and a retired LAPD officer, helped get the boy back to safety.
They also helped reunite him with his parents. The boy's parents declined to talk to Kastner on camera.
Police said it appears the boy just wandered off.
His aunt told Kastner everyone is beyond thankful to the Good Samaritans for stopping.
"God bless, God bless. They were amazing," Villegas said.
San Bernarino Police told Kastner they're investigating the situation but, for now, it doesn't appear the parents will face any criminal charges since this case doesn't seem to be criminal in nature.
