A seven-year-old boy stayed by his mother’s side for 12 hours after a car crash sadly killed her.
Authorities say the woman lost control of her Subaru Crosstrek while driving home to Tollhouse from a friend’s house.
The vehicle veered off Highway 168 at Qualls Prather Road in Auberry and plummeted down an embankment, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.
“Vehicle traveled off the embankment, rolled over multiple times,” a first responder reported.
Both the mother and child were ejected from the car.
Tragically, the mother succumbed to her injuries, while the young boy remained by her side attempting to keep warm for approximately 12 hours until he was found.
CHP Officer John Marsh detailed how the boy was discovered: “We got a call of a child walking on the four-lane section of the 168, and the parties who found the child basically walked down to where the crash had happened,” cited by ABC6 news.
Loved ones had reported the pair missing when they failed to arrive home after midnight.
Recommended Article
By 8:45AM Sunday, a “be on the lookout” alert was issued. The child was spotted just before noon, leading authorities to the crash site.
Officer Marsh revealed the extent of the wreckage, stating: “It was basically sitting in a grove of trees, covered and not visible from the highway.”
Investigators believe neither the mother nor her son were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash.
“He said he was in a car seat that he did not fall out of,” a first responder confirmed.
The 7-year-old was transported to Valley Children’s Hospital, where he received treatment for multiple injuries, including a broken arm. He has since been reunited with his father.
First responders praised the boy’s resilience, describing him as remarkably strong and in high spirits despite the tragedy.
The crash remains under investigation as authorities await toxicology results to determine whether alcohol or drugs played a role in the accident.
