Toddler Found Playing Along Interstate

[eric&gen 0]

INDIANAPOLIS (Dec. 31) - Drivers swerved cars and trucks into other lanes to avoid a 3-year-old boy, wearing only a diaper and T-shirt, who was playing along a busy highway after wandering away from home while his mother slept, police said.

Some motorists stopped along Interstate 465 on the city's west side Saturday to take care of the boy until officers arrived, the Indiana State Police said.

"I looked up and I seen this little ... boy running down the middle of the slow lane in the interstate. I just could not believe what I was seeing," said Troy Crady, one of those who stopped to help.

The boy, Damon Dyer, was unscathed as at least a half-dozen cars and a tractor-trailer rig swerved into other lanes to avoid him. Temperatures were in the mid 50s as the boy ran around barefooted.

Police said they traced the toddler to an apartment at a nearby complex, where they found his mother, Nancy Dyer asleep in a filthy apartment and his 2-year-old sister eating spaghetti off the floor.

Dyer, 33, was arrested on two counts of child neglect and remained in custody Sunday, officials said.

Senior State Trooper Cedric Merritt said that when Dyer was told of her son's activities, she responded: "Oh, he got out again."

Investigators said the boy got out his second-story apartment, went down stairs and got around a fence to reach the highway about 200 yards away.

Child Protective Services took the boy and his sister into custody, and investigators said the agency also had been called to the apartment Thursday because the boy was outside unsupervised.

[MichelleandCraig 1]

OMG that's GREAT! Ok..that sounds like a weird comment, but Corey saw/heard about this story earlier and must have gotten it wrong because he said the little boy was killed...I'm so glad to hear he's ok!!! (but gawd...that mom!!!make sure the child can't get outside, for crying out loud!!)

Edited January 1, 2007 by MichelleandCraig

[Lizzy 0]

Bless his heart, what a scary situation for him to have to go through

Why do people bother to have children if there not going to look after them in the correct way.

[Mary Lou 681]

My god, that woman shouldnt be aloud to have children Thankfully the little boy wasnt hit by a car and is ok

[eric&gen 0]

The mother of the child souds like she was on crack or some kind of drugs to make a stupid comment like "Oh, he got out again." People like that shouldnt be allowed to have children.

[Mags 112]

In a way, the boy getting out like that is a beneficial thing. Least he is no longer under the care of the thing he called Mom.

[dingding 0]

I remember a similar thing happening to me here in the UK a few years back. I was headed to a mates to watch a football game. I was walking along the main road, it was a sunday so not many people about but the road was busy. Yeah it was nothing like an interstate but still a main A road. There was a little girl who couldnt have been any older than 18 months walking along the gutter in just a diaper, cars flying past her without even stopping. well needless to say I grabbed her by the hand and lead her out of the road. I had no idea where she had come from and there was noone around, or no open doors. So I basically went and knocked on the nearest house door to ask if they knew who she belonged to. Its a sign of todays society I guess, but the people who openened the door (a couple in there late 50s early 60s I would say) didnt say a word and gave me the evilest scowl you could imagine and took her from my hand, basically as if to say "were you trying to snatch this kid or something", well it kinda p'd me off. But should we ignore children in danger nowadays just incase the situation gets misunderstood?

[Jenn! 918]

Crackheads, sheesh.

[kim&james 0]

personally this is disgusting of a parent to not look after their children like this...

I would also like to share a story about me when I was little about 3-4 years.. I was an escape artist.. I could get out of everything no matter what my parents and grandparents did, I got out... the police picked me up playing on a roundabout (waiting for my grandfather who came that way home from work) - the parents had already realised that I was missing and had notified the police and where out looking for me with the neighbours. I can recall everyone being exasperated as each time they tried to childproof the home and area I would sill find a way to get out. finally, all gates where chained and locked, large trees made way for small bushes and the shed was kept locked so I couldnt get something to stand on dragged outside. For me, I was a horribly inquisitive child for whom the world outside the fence was a wonderful place, for this poor child featured in this story.. it is probably a good place to escape to... Im glad they are now going to be taken care of by child services.

[Buttons 0]

Just disgusting !!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jersey Girl 2]

Hmmm. If we see a child wandering and in danger, we believe it's right to step in. But when we see someone headed for a fall because of substance abuse, we're supposed to stay out of it or risk being called "judgemental." (Neither one has the sense to know there could be permanent damage.)

[de_sjiem 0]

Hmmm. If we see a child wandering and in danger, we believe it's right to step in. But when we see someone headed for a fall because of substance abuse, we're supposed to stay out of it or risk being called "judgemental." (Neither one has the sense to know there could be permanent damage.)

Who says you can't step in? Just those headed towards a fall because of stubstance abuse are less likely to heed warnings..