At a Glance
- A father of five stopped traffic on Florida’s State Road A1A to rescue two toddlers who had wandered into the roadway on January 11.
- Dash-cam footage shows him halting cars with one hand while scooping up each child in under six seconds.
- The toddlers had slipped out through an open back gate of a nearby Airbnb; their guardians were unaware they were missing.
- Why it matters: Quick action by a passerby averted a potential tragedy and highlights how fast small children can escape adult supervision.
A routine drive home turned into a life-saving moment when John Brittingham spotted two toddlers alone on a busy Florida highway and sprinted into traffic to bring them to safety.
The incident unfolded shortly after noon on Sunday, January 11, as Brittingham traveled south on State Road A1A in Brevard County. Dash-cam video from his vehicle shows two small girls-each about two years old or younger-standing in the middle of the roadway as cars approached.
Brittingham, a father of five and grandfather, immediately pulled over. The footage shows him using one arm to wave traffic to a stop while scooping up the first child. Seconds later, he reached the second toddler, who lifted her arms toward him. The entire rescue took roughly six seconds.
“I was terrified thinking of what could have happened to them,” Brittingham told NBC affiliate WESH. “The rest of my life would have been ruined.”
After securing both children, Brittingham began searching for their guardians. No one answered at the nearest residence, an Airbnb rental, so he walked around back and discovered an open gate leading to the yard. Inside the home, an elderly couple and a young girl were startled to learn the toddlers had wandered out.
“They immediately went into like, ‘Oh my God, we’re so sorry,'” Brittingham recalled. “I was like, ‘Yeah, I know, I’m just glad I could get them back to you. They were out in the road, and your gate was open.'”
Because he located the family quickly, Brittingham did not file a formal report. However, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office has since opened an investigation. A spokesperson confirmed deputies found no immediate evidence of criminal activity. The family is from out of state, prompting local officials to notify the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services.
The sheriff’s office emphasized that the toddlers’ escape appears accidental and that the guardians were unaware the back gate had been left unsecured.
