Man pushes baby clear before car hits him, Fresno police say
"Things could have gone another way. I probably wouldn't have a son today if it wasn't for him," said Mercedes Ramirez.
FRESNO, California -- Nineteen-year-old Manuel Reyes Ramos was walking in a crosswalk with his 9-month-old nephew when an SUV struck him. Seconds before impact, Ramos pushed the baby out of the way.
It happened just before ten Tuesday morning in central Fresno.
Ramos is being hailed a hero as he undergoes surgery. Meanwhile, the infant is going to be okay.
A tearful Mercedes Ramirez recounted the horrifying moments after learning her brother saved her son's life.
"They're trying to figure out what's going on but right now just being in the room next to him and hearing him scream. I can't take it," said Ramirez.
She said Ramos was on the way to store with his nephew Victor when a speeding SUV didn't stop as they were crossing the crosswalk. Ramirez said her brother will have to undergo extensive surgery for a leg fracture and head trauma. Nine-month-old Victor also took a tumble from being pushed and was injured on his face.
"Don't be driving so fast. Look what happened to my 9-month-old baby and my brother. Lives could have been lost today," said Ramirez.
Fresno police say the driver of the SUV did cooperate and admitted fault for the accident. The 43-year-old was driving a large Chevrolet Blazer.
"He was upset. What he was saying when I was here was I had a green light but you have to yield to a pedestrian on a crosswalk on a green light too so. But he was traveling fast according to witnesses here," said Fresno Police Lt. Joe Gomez.
The driver will likely face an infraction, police said, for not yielding to pedestrians. Ramirez on the other hand said she plans on suing the driver for her brother's injuries.
"Things could have gone another way. I probably wouldn't have a son today if it wasn't for him," said Ramirez.
The driver didn't have insurance, according to police.
