A local rideshare driver is being credited with preventing a tragedy after intercepting a toddler wandering alone through heavy traffic on the city’s South Side.
Michelle Gallegos, a driver for zTrip via the VIA Link service, discovered the unidentified boy on March 10 while driving near Interstate 35. Dashcam footage released by Gallegos captures the harrowing moment she spotted the child “skipping” in the middle of a busy thoroughfare as vehicles sped past.
The footage illustrates the immediate danger as Gallegos maneuvered her vehicle to shield the toddler from a nearby truck. “If I didn’t stop, he would have gotten him,” Gallegos told local reporters, noting that the child appeared oblivious to the surrounding traffic.
Upon securing the child, Gallegos reported that the boy appeared neglected; his clothing was soiled and his diaper was heavily soaked. After moving the child to safety, she alerted the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) from a nearby parking lot at the Seven Pines Apartment Homes.
Witnesses at the apartment complex reported that staff had been “frantically” searching for the child prior to Gallegos’s arrival. SAPD officers eventually determined the boy resided at the complex.
According to Gallegos, the reunion with the parents raised further questions. She described the parents as appearing “very calm” upon arrival, allegedly explaining they had been at an appointment when the child managed to exit their supervision.
While the SAPD has not yet released a formal statement regarding potential charges or the specific duration the child was missing, the incident highlights critical concerns regarding child supervision in high-traffic urban areas.
“I’m thankful that day that I was able to see him from afar and was able to stop,” Gallegos stated, emphasizing the necessity of driver vigilance.
The San Antonio Police Department and zTrip have been contacted for official comment regarding the status of the investigation and the welfare of the minor.
