Man pushes baby clear before car hits him, Fresno police say
"Things could have gone another way. I probably wouldn't have a son today if it wasn't for him," said Mercedes Ramirez.
FRESNO, Calif. -- Manuel Reyes Ramos, 19, was walking in a crosswalk with his 9-month-old nephew when an SUV struck him. It happened just before ten Tuesday morning at the intersection of Ashlan and Barton in Central Fresno.
Ramos is being hailed a hero this evening, as he undergoes surgery. Meanwhile the 9-month-old infant that was pushed out of the way, is going to be okay.
A tearful Mercedes Ramirez recounts the horrifying moments after learning her 19-year-old brother saved her son's life.
"They're trying to figure out what's going on but right now just being in the room next to him and hearing him scream. I can't take it," said Ramirez.
She says Ramos was on the way to store with his nephew, 9-month-old Victor, when a speeding car didn't stop as they were crossing the crosswalk. He pushed Victor out of the way of a speeding SUV, only to be hit himself. Ramirez says her brother will have to undergo extensive surgery for a leg fracture and head trauma. 9-month-old Victor also took a tumble from being pushed and was injured on his face.
"Don't be driving so fast. Look what happened to my nine month old baby and my brother. Lives could have been lost today," said Ramirez.
Fresno police say the driver of the SUV did cooperate and admitted fault for the accident. The 43-year-old was driving a large Chevrolet Blazer when he was turning onto Ashlan Avenue.
"He was upset. what he was saying when I was here was I had a green light but you have to yield to a pedestrian on a crosswalk on a greenlight too so. But he was traveling fast according to witnesses here," said Fresno Police Lt. Joe Gomez.
The driver will likely face an infraction, police said for not yielding to pedestrians. Ramirez on the other hand tells Action News she plans on suing the driver, for her brother's injuries.
"Things could have gone another way. I probably wouldn't have a son today if it wasn't for him," said Ramirez.
We've also learned the driver didn't have insurance, according to police.
When ABC30 last spoke with Ramirez she said her brother is still in stable condition and her baby is home with family.
