Truck driver rescues toddler from busy road Wednesday in Mason City (photos)

MASON CITY – A potential tragedy was averted Wednesday morning in Mason City when a truck driver encountered a toddler in the middle of a busy road.

The incident took place at about 10:45 AM at the intersection of South Washington Avenue and 5th Street SW. A caller and trusted source called the NIT newsroom to inform that a small child who he said “couldn’t have been a year and half” in age and “could barely walk” had wandered into traffic at 5th Street SW outside the American Best Inn and Suites and Kum & Go central. The caller said by the time he had called NIT, he had already noticed the child near the street, alone, with no adults around. He had stopped his pickup truck as he was about to intervene, he said, when the child went into traffic. At that point, a semi truck approached. The truck driver, the caller said, stopped his semi in the middle of the road, blocking traffic. The man got out and rescued the child from the street and took him to the corner. Soon, the caller explained, police arrived.

A crowd had gathered, he said, to watch what was going on.

Police tell NIT that they discovered the child at Kum & Go, but, somehow the child was inside Floyd & Leonard with police. The little boy’s mother and father were not to be found, immediately. Police searched, and it appeared that officers found the mother at Kum & Go. An officer escorted the mother (who police did not name) across the street to Floyd & Leonard; she was in tears carrying a cigarette.

Onlookers at the hotel told NIT that they were all staying there, including the boy and his parents. One women in sweats chuckled as she said “it’s my day off” as she took a heavy drag from her cigarette and said she “works here in town” when asked where she’s employed.

Soon, a male who later identified himself as the boy’s father – and now DENIES he is the boy’s father – joined the boy’s mother and her friend at the Floyd & Leonard shop; he had walked over from the hotel. Their friend – woman in a black hoodie – told NIT that the boy had “gotten out of the truck… and had always followed us inside before.” She walked away when asked if anyone had actually made sure the child had walked inside the door of the hotel room.

Police were taking statements, briefly, at Floyd & Leonard parking lot.  The man who denies being the father of the boy approached NIT and said he “didn’t like pictures” and asked what they were for. He didn’t answer when pressed about whether or not his son had nearly been hit by a semi.

Police said the Department of Human Services was contacted to follow up. The truck driver soon left the scene and his name was not available. The child was not injured. He went with his parents and their friend back to the hotel, where the clan climbed a staircase to the second level and disappeared.