Toddler found playing on highway

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 6:59pm

More bad parenting:


"INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana (AP) -- 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."


http://edition.cnn.com/2006/US/12/31/highway.toddler.ap/

[Fabrizio2]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 6:59pm

Oh my god!

[MotorTink]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 7:00pm

Stories like that really make me sick to my stomach!!!!

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 7:01pm

Coincidentally, his little t-shirt read, "My Sister Got Floor Spaghetti and All I Got was This Lousy T-Shirt."

[Craig]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 7:04pm

I could be wrong, but a 3 year old still in a diaper doesn't bode well either...

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 7:22pm

The mother.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 7:23pm

The kid.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 7:24pm

"INDIANAPOLIS - A three-year-old child was found wandering along I-465 Saturday morning. Now little Damon Dyer is safe thanks to some drivers and an apartment leasing agent.

Playing with power windows in the back of a State Police squad car can be entertaining for a three-year-old. It's much safer than where little Damon was found.

Motorists traveling along I-465 on the west side spotted the child playing along the berm. They stopped and held on to the child until State Police could arrive.

"The witnesses observed the child walking along the berm playing and running around as they attempted to pick him up and keep him safe from harm from the traffic," Indiana State Police Trooper Cedric Merritt said.

Troopers took pictures of Damon and searched the roadside looking for other clues. When they found the boy, they didn't know his identity.

An employee at the Scarborough Lake Apartments says someone found a child wandering in the apartment parking lot a few days ago.

"There was an occurrence where a little three-year-old was running in the parking lot so I asked for a description. They told me he was a little boy he was white, male. I said ok, I think it might be the same person. I have a feeling it is," Sha-Hanna Lewis, a Scarborough Lake Apartments leasing agent, said.

Lewis confirmed Damon lived at the apartments and led police to where he lives. That's where police found human waste, trash and a little girl eating old food off the floor. Thirty-year-old Nancy Dyer was inside and had been sleeping.

"Mom seemed like she didn't care at all, like it was like a nonchalant thing. Very concerning especially to know that a child was almost struck and possibly could have been struck on the interstate and acted she didn't care at all," Trooper Merritt said.

Child Protective Services took Damon and his two-year-old sister, Gabriel, into their custody.

Police took Nancy Dyer away in handcuffs. She now faces two counts of child neglect.

Police say the Dyer family moved into the apartment complex earlier this month. The children's father lives in Florida."

http://www.wishtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5873695

[touchmeinthemorning]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 7:26pm

18 months to 3 years is the normal age range to start potty training.

I'm sure he was in need of a diaper change after that highway stroll. God knows if I walked in traffic, I'd need some clean undies.

Posted: 1/2/07 at 7:31pm

heartwarming.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 7:34pm

Updated On: 2/7/07 at 07:34 PM

[Rose_MacShane]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 7:35pm

My original comment is no longer applicable, but I will say this: It's s**t like this that sometimes make me wish people had to pass a test in order to have children.

Updated On: 1/2/07 at 07:35 PM

[mattnyc2]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 8:01pm

Eww, that nasty woman looks like an anorexic Kid Rock.

It sickens me that freaks like her can pop out as many kids as they want, yet there are still parts in the country where gays and lesbians cannot adopt.

[StageManager2]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 8:03pm

"an anorexic Kid Rock"

LOL!

Posted: 1/2/07 at 8:03pm

You have to pass a rigorous screening process to get a dog at an animal shelter and this witch can have as many kids as she wants.

I saw her on the news and her comment was along the lines of "He's always slipping away! He got out again!"

[colleen_lee]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 8:09pm

And the sad thing is that our system is so flawed that chances of her regaining custody of her children again is actually pretty good.

[shiksa_goddess]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 8:21pm

That is terrible. Thank God somebody got him out of the road! It's just disgusting what some parents do.

[ahmelie]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 8:28pm

I like how the cars driving down the highway just swerved to avoid him, rather then getting the kid out of the road. What the hell is that all about?

[aspen]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 8:31pm

Everyone's blaming the poor mother for this. I say it's the fault of our nation's highway system for building a road so close to a sleepy woman with an escape-artist 3-year-old.

Oh, this is Bush's fault in some way or another, believe you me.

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 8:55pm

OK. agreed, this seems inexcusable, but here's what I experienced several years ago. Not exactly the same situation, but this stuff can/does happen.

While driving down a 4 lane main road in South Jersey, I spotted a little boy about 3 years old naked on the side of the busy road. I pulled over and just asked him where is your house? He pointed 3 houses down. I took him by hand and walked him to the door.
The frantic mother let out a scream and brought us both in the house. Clearly shaken, she explained that she was changing his baby brother, the 3 turning 4 year old was eating crackers on the floor in front of his favorite show. He decided to take off his clothes, like his little brother, push a chair to the door, climb up to release the chain lock and double lock and just quietly walked out the door.

He had never done anything like this before. The young mother was so upset. The doors were double locked. She was two rooms away and left him as usual watching his favorite show for about 5 min. She returned to find him not in the room and began searching the house. She spotted the open door and called 911. Before the police arrived, I was walking up the driveway with the little streaker.

Hey, having 2 very inventive little boys, these thing do happen!

Updated On: 1/2/07 at 08:55 PM

[CostumeMistress]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 9:17pm

Okay, PB, but that little boy wasn't eating spaghetti off the floor near human waste. The situation is just a wee bit different.

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 9:55pm

Of course. This is a case of neglect and endangering the welfare of a child at the very least and inexcusable. I really wish there was an international parenting program that all would-be parents or mothers would be obligated to pass prior to having children.

My experience was frightening and upsetting. I'm so glad I was there to prevent something worse from happening. But never underestimate the mind of a child!

[Becoz_i_knew_you21]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 9:56pm

"it's s**t like this that sometimes make me wish people had to pass a test in order to have children."

Me too. People should have to register to be parents.

[StageManager2]

Posted: 1/2/07 at 10:34pm

Incidentally, when I was 4/5/6, I used to wander about my neighborhood without any parental supervision. My father was absent and my mother worked long hours each day. Thus, my eldest sister (who herself was only 11/12/13), was in charge of a baby, a toddler, and two tots. She obviously had her hands full with the little ones, so my slightly older brother and I would take to roaming the streets. Good times!