On January 30, at 11:12 p.m., Eugene Police officers responded to a vehicle/pedestrian crash involving an injured child, age 3, in the 1300 block of Coburg Road. Upon arrival, officers discovered that a man, age 48, had been walking with his son, when the son spied a large puddle in the roadway and ran toward it. A Toyota Corolla was coming and the father sprang into action, running to protect his son, pushing him out of the way onto the sidewalk and himself being struck. The car’s male driver, age 29, had been able to slow his vehicle and swerve to avoid the boy. The boy received only minor scratches and abrasions from his father’s life-saving push.
The father rolled partially up the hood of the sedan and back onto the pavement, where he struck his head. The father was conscious, but transported to the hospital for evaluation due to the impact. There did not appear to be any damage to the vehicle from the low-speed impact.
Officers believe the father’s quick reaction saved his son's life.
Case 21-01646