SAN ANTONIO — A routine ride turned into a life-or-death moment when a driver spotted a toddler alone in traffic and jumped into action.

Michelle Gallegos is an independent contract driver with zTrip, a company that offers shuttle and taxi service around San Antonio.

On March 10, Gallegos said she was driving along on the city’s South Side near Interstate 35 when a small boy, clothed in a shirt and diaper, caught her eye.

“Oh my God, there’s this little boy in the middle of the street,” she said in the video.

She starts honking as the boy runs onto the busy road.

“He was not scared whatsoever. He was skipping, he was playing,” she said.

Gallegos then pulls over and puts the child in her car to get him to safety.

She puts him in the front seat, and pulls into the Seven Pines apartment homes nearby.

She called 911, and in less than 10 minutes police arrived, and the child’s guardians

“As soon as they arrived, I see the parents walking up very calmly,” she said.

Police told ABC San Antonio affiliate KSAT that no arrests were made because “there was no crime committed.”

Lauren Smith, general manager of zTrip in San Antonio issued the following statement:

“This is a powerful example of going above and beyond, not just as a professional driver, but as a member of the community,” Smith said. “We are incredibly proud of this driver for their quick thinking, calm response, and genuine care for another person’s life. Their actions made a real difference, and they exemplify the values we strive to uphold every day.”

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