Police rescue child in Carbondale road

CARBONDALE, Ill. (KBSI) – Police officers rescued a juvenile in the road in Carbondale on Wednesday.

Carbondale police officers responded to East Main Street near Reed Station Road around 10:38 a.m. on Wednesday, August 7 after receiving a report of a juvenile in the roadway.

While officers responded, other department personnel accessed the surveillance cameras in the area and saw that the child was placing himself in danger by walking in the road across several lanes of traffic with vehicles moving at high rates of speed.

The first responding officer found the juvenile on the far side of the road out of traffic.

The officer determined the child suffers from a condition that placed him in danger.

The officer was able to identify and contact the child’s parents, who did not realize their son had left home.

The juvenile was returned to his parents safe and in good health.

There are no criminal charges.

Police say they are very appreciative of the citizens who reported the child in the roadway and the officers’ responsive actions.

They say the efforts of all involved likely prevented a great tragedy.

“We are extremely grateful to the vigilant citizens who reported the juvenile in the roadway, allowing our officers to respond quickly to a potentially tragic situation,” said Carbondale Police Chief and Interim City Manager Stan Ren. “The swift actions of our officers, combined with the use of surveillance technology, ensured that the juvenile was safely returned to his family. This incident highlights the importance of community involvement and the dedication of our officers to keep our community safe. Thanks to the efforts of everyone involved, a potential tragedy was averted, and the juvenile is safe and in good health.”