Conn. barbers hailed as heroes after saving toddler running toward busy intersection
Quick actions by a pair of barbers in East Hartford prevented what appeared to be a tragedy destined to happen when a toddler was seen bolting toward a busy intersection.
Video of the incident, shared by the East Hartford Police Department on Wednesday, shows the barbers spot the child outside the window of Look Sharp Barbershop running along Brown Street toward the busy intersection of Main Street where numerous cars are traveling in both directions.
Within a second or two, the barbers, identified by police as Osvaldo Lugo and Rafael Santana, scurry down the barbershop stairs and race toward the child just before reaching the bustling intersection. Lugo grabbed the toddler and carried her to safety.
“All I thought was this was a recipe for disaster,” Lugo told The Courant.
“I acted while I was thinking, ‘if I don’t move now this is not going to end well,'” he said.
“When I saw the baby running down the street I knew I had to act,” Lugo said. “I couldn’t stop to think.”
East Hartford police hailed Lugo and Santana as heroes.
“Today, we want to give a massive shoutout to the quick-thinking and brave duo…,” East Hartford police wrote on the department’s Facebook page.
“Their swift action saved a little toddler who had escaped from (their) mother and started moving toward traffic on Main Street,” police said. “Thanks to them, a potential tragedy was averted, and a family remains whole. We’re incredibly grateful for these everyday heroes among us.”
According to Lugo, he knows from being at the barbershop for quite some time that there a lot of accidents at the intersection where the child was approaching. He said he thinks his instincts as a father kicked in when he saw what appeared to be a tragedy just moments from happening.
“I got kids,” the 47-year-old said. “So I know they’ll run all over if you don’t keep an eye on them. I know what it’s like to be a dad.”
Having seen so many sad things happening in the news every day, Lugo said he’s just “glad that nothing bad happened to a child.”
“I’m humbled to be the one to be there,” he said.
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