Little Boy Running Straight for Busy Street, Stranger Jumps Out Car & Runs After Him
Moms and dads can probably relate to this feeling instantly. It’s the sinking impulse that occurs deep in your gut, when you see a small child in harm’s way.
The child could be any child — not just your own. And in fairness, any adult onlooker would likely experience similar alarm bells.
But if we’re honest, not everyone takes immediate action. Maybe we’re not quite close enough to intervene, or we’re reluctant to get too involved, or we fear appearing foolish if we overreact.
In any event, sometimes that single moment of snap judgment can literally mean the difference between life and death. Take, for example, a video that’s recently gone viral on social media.
Surveillance footage showed a Washington state motorist in a light-colored car, pulling up to a very busy intersection. Beside his vehicle, a little boy in a red shirt was running down the street.
The motorist, later identified as Sean Deeds, reached the intersection just a few yards ahead of the hurrying child. Deeds stopped his car — but the boy continued bolting forward.
In a moment of quick thinking that is now being applauded by viewers everywhere, Deeds hopped out of his driver’s side door and sprinted around the hood.
He reached the child mere feet from oncoming traffic, blocking the way to halt any additional forward progress.
Mere moments later, a police cruiser arrived on the scene. A concerned officer exited his squad car, bending down near the boy as he appears to carefully explain the very real hazards of playing near the road.
Once Deeds confirmed that the youngster was indeed safe, he simply got back into his car and drove away without waiting for praise or recognition.
In fact, Washington’s Federal Way Police Department actually had to share this video surveillance footage so that they — along with the boy’s grateful mother — could properly thank Deeds for his timely intervention.
Deeds later told media outlets that he was taking his own son fishing, when he first noticed the small child dashing along.
It turns out the boy in question was only 4 years old; likely too young to fully consider the consequences of rushing into traffic.
Turns out this gallant good deed was mainly due to Deeds’ naturally protective, fatherly instincts.
The good Samaritan humbly told news sources that he didn’t feel he deserved special credit — but did mention that he hopes the positive outcome might encourage all of us to “watch each other’s back” without hesitation.
We are thankful that Deeds was in the right place at the right time, and hope we would be able to act as quickly if faced with a similar situation.
Truth and Accuracy
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.
