MESA, Ariz. — An unattended toddler ran into the middle of a busy street in Mesa last week, but thanks to a good Samaritan, he is uninjured.
Adriana Bello was in a left-hand turn lane on University Drive and 96th Street, just east of University Drive and Ellsworth Road, around 5:45 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 8 when she witnessed the terrifying moment.
>> Download the 12News app for the latest local breaking news straight to your phone.
“I panicked and started screaming," Bello said. “That is a busy, very, very busy intersection.”
The entire incident was captured on Bello's dash camera.
It shows a two-year-old boy, wearing only a diaper, running into the street and stopping.
“I’m honking my horn thinking, you know, get out of the way, as if he could hear me," Bello said.
Two cars swerved and narrowly avoided hitting the toddler.
A woman unrelated to the boy ran into the street, picked him up, and brought him to safety.
“That freaked me out even more," Alexander Schabel, the toddler's father, told 12News. "That dash cam video was pretty wild. That white car that was coming up, had to swerve out of the way. If they were texting or something, they definitely would have hit that kid.”
Schabel said he was not home at the time of the incident. He said the toddler's mother was watching five kids when she left the home to go across the street to a gas station.
“She took the big kids down there. She said the kids were sleeping. I don’t know if they were or not, but she didn’t lock the door," Schabel said.
Schabel said he was alerted to the situation by his Ring doorbell camera, which showed a stranger on his porch.
“Some random lady was holding my baby. I’m like, 'Who’s holding my baby?' She’s like, 'Your kid almost got ran over in the street,'" Schabel said.
Schabel said he is relieved his child is home safe.
“People need to pay attention while they’re driving because things like that could happen," Schabel said.
Neighbors are grateful this terrifying moment did not end in tragedy.
“It is definitely a miracle that this child was not injured at all," Bello said.
The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office told 12News the child was returned to his grandmother.
MCSO is investigating. No arrests have been made.
Investigators contacted the Arizona Department of Child Safety, which will be looking into this case.
Watch 12News+ for free
You can now watch 12News content anytime, anywhere thanks to the 12News+ app!
The free 12News+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like "Today in AZ" and "12 News" and our daily lifestyle program, "Arizona Midday"—on Roku and Amazon Fire TV.
12News+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona.
Users can also watch on-demand videos of top stories, local politics, I-Team investigations, Arizona-specific features and vintage videos from the 12News archives.
Roku: Add the channel from the Roku store or by searching for "12 News KPNX."
Amazon Fire TV: Search for "12 News KPNX" to find the free 12News+ app to add to your account, or have the 12News+ app delivered directly to your Amazon Fire TV through Amazon.com or the Amazon app.
Up to Speed
Catch up on the latest news and stories on the 12News YouTube channel. Subscribe today.