An unbelievable scene played out on Route 58 in Hanson, Massachusetts, Monday morning: a child seen on surveillance video falling out of a moving SUV.
Police are now looking to identify the driver to make sure the boy or girl is doing well and to find out how it happened.
"Was it inadvertently they didn’t have the child safety locks on the door? Was there mechanical failure of the door? Also, why wasn’t the child in a seat?" Hanson Police Chief Mike Miksch said.
As seen on the surveillance footage, the vehicle was pulling out of Hanson Town Hall and turning onto Liberty Street when a small child opened the rear driver's side door and fell out onto the roadway.
After tumbling out, the child stood up and ran toward the white SUV, police said. Route 58 is very busy and the child is lucky they weren't hit.
The female driver of the vehicle pulled over, got out and ran toward the child, according to authorities. She then picked up the child and took the child back to the SUV.
After a short time, the woman drove away, police said.
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The incident happened right in front of a Sunoco gas station, where Arthur Kennedy is a clerk.
“I was at the gas station sitting down, pumping a car, and I heard a child cry," he said. "Then I saw the woman stop the car quickly and get out and I saw her little boy running towards her. I said to myself, 'Did he fall out of the car?'”
Police are asking for the public's help identifying the driver and child. The woman was believed to have been driving a white Dodge Journey.
It's unclear if any criminal charges would be filed.
"We want to ensure the safety and well-being of the child, as well as determine how this event happened," Hanson Police Chief Michael Miksch said. "Thankfully it appears that the child may not have been seriously injured. But we want to make sure and we would like to speak with the driver."
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Hanson police at 781-293-4625.
