Good Samaritan saves baby who crawled out into the road

<p>Authorities say a baby boy found crawling across a busy Ocean County roadway was unharmed after a neighbor and passing motorist came to his&nbsp;aid.</p>

News 12 Staff

Sep 24, 2018, 2:19 PM

Updated 2,048 days ago

Share:

Authorities say a baby boy found crawling across a busy Ocean County roadway was unharmed after a neighbor and passing motorist came to his aid.
The child was spotted around 5 p.m. Saturday on Joe Parker Road in Lakewood.
Optimum employee Cory Cannon says that he was driving to work Saturday morning when he saw the baby crawling out on the street.
“I thought it might have been a bag or a toy or something, but when I saw the child move,” Cannon says. “I already had my phone up because I was using my GPS so as I was pulling over and blocking traffic, I snapped a couple of pictures.”
Cannon tells News 12 New Jersey that while he blocked traffic, a neighbor came and grabbed the baby out of the street.
Lakewood police say that they believe that the baby’s older sibling may have left a door open, allowing the child to get out.
Cannon’s photo of the baby went viral – with many criticizing him for taking a photo, believing that he did not stop to help.
“My whole thing was this: I made sure that the child was safe, first and foremost, but at the same time in my head I had to make sure that I had proof of what I saw,” he says. “At the end of the day, I did the right thing. And that's all I was trying to do.”
Cannon says that he was thinking of his own 4-month-old daughter at the time.
“He was very, very upset, and he was just like…’Just hug and kiss my daughter for me,’” says Cannon’s wife Zenobia.
It was not immediately clear if charges would be filed. Lakewood police and the New Jersey Department of Child Protection are investigating.
Editor’s Note: Optimum is owned by Altice USA – parent company of News 12 New Jersey.
The Associated Press wire services contributed to this report.


More from News 12
2:32
Keeping kids safe: Youth curfew now in effect for the city of Newark

Keeping kids safe: Youth curfew now in effect for the city of Newark

1:46
Officials: Man killed in house explosion in South River identified as retired Newark officer

Officials: Man killed in house explosion in South River identified as retired Newark officer

2:16
Cloudy skies overnight; rainy weekend ahead for New Jersey

Cloudy skies overnight; rainy weekend ahead for New Jersey

0:42
NJ lawmakers criticize how Rutgers officials negotiated with pro-Palestinian protesters

NJ lawmakers criticize how Rutgers officials negotiated with pro-Palestinian protesters

0:28
Special election to be held to fill late Rep. Donald Payne’s seat in Congress

Special election to be held to fill late Rep. Donald Payne’s seat in Congress

0:27
Prosecutor: 2 people seriously injured in 3-car crash; driver charged with drunk driving

Prosecutor: 2 people seriously injured in 3-car crash; driver charged with drunk driving

0:42
Jersey Proud: Army ROTC students from Rutgers, Seton Hall and Princeton train together

Jersey Proud: Army ROTC students from Rutgers, Seton Hall and Princeton train together

0:30
Police: New York man pointed knife at pro-Palestinian protester in Teaneck

Police: New York man pointed knife at pro-Palestinian protester in Teaneck

0:27
Officials: Paterson man threatened to ‘shoot up’ JFK Int’l Airport

Officials: Paterson man threatened to ‘shoot up’ JFK Int’l Airport

2:02
Authorities: Major fire displaces 20 people from 9 families in Elizabeth

Authorities: Major fire displaces 20 people from 9 families in Elizabeth

1:04
Hillsborough school officials vote to end middle school sports, make staff cuts amid budget cuts

Hillsborough school officials vote to end middle school sports, make staff cuts amid budget cuts

0:49
Bridgewater-Raritan School District waives fees to participate in clubs, sports

Bridgewater-Raritan School District waives fees to participate in clubs, sports

0:39
Officials: 3 pedestrians, including 2 children, struck by NYC-based news van in Elizabeth

Officials: 3 pedestrians, including 2 children, struck by NYC-based news van in Elizabeth

0:28
GoFundMe started for 6-month-old boy and his grandfather killed by fallen tree in Verona

GoFundMe started for 6-month-old boy and his grandfather killed by fallen tree in Verona

0:40
Main Street New Jersey: Restaurants, businesses to visit in Edgewater

Main Street New Jersey: Restaurants, businesses to visit in Edgewater

3:21
Bridge over section of I-95 in process of being demolished due to damage from truck fire

Bridge over section of I-95 in process of being demolished due to damage from truck fire

1:12
Several house fires break out Thursday in New Jersey; 1 man dead

Several house fires break out Thursday in New Jersey; 1 man dead

0:18
South Brunswick police searching for missing man last seen on Route 1

South Brunswick police searching for missing man last seen on Route 1

0:23
South Orange woman indicted for stealing over $1 million federal benefits intended for dead aunt

South Orange woman indicted for stealing over $1 million federal benefits intended for dead aunt

1:26
Look up! Annual Eta Aquarid meteor shower peaks early Sunday morning

Look up! Annual Eta Aquarid meteor shower peaks early Sunday morning