Ex-Con Rescues Baby Crawling by Georgia Highway: 'Almost A Miracle' She's Unhurt, Say Police (VIDEO)
An ex-con rescued a baby who was crawling on the side of a Georgia highway Friday morning, according to reports. The auto repairman who served 10 years in prison for making cocaine said he played gospel music to calm the lost infant, and police called it "almost a miracle" that the child wasn't seriously injured.
The ex-con that saved the baby from the edge of Highway 72 is Bryant Collins, who was shocked to see a 15-month-old crawling by the road.
"I had seen something out of the corner of my eye, and I thought it was a baby," he told WXIA news. "I just stopped and, when I got out, there was a baby — almost in the highway."
Acting fast, the repairman got out and scooped up the child and called 911 to alert police. The little girl was upset and crying, so Collins played some gospel music from her cell phone to calm her down.
"I know gospel music calms me down," he admitted.
Police arrived about two hours later and identified that the baby's parents had left her in the house with their other children aged 13, 9 and 5. They were supposed to be watching the 15-month-old but the baby crawled for about 300 yards and fell down an embankment. Authorities speculated that she could have been crawling for around an hour, but somehow only sustained superficial injuries.
"Honestly, that's almost a miracle," Madison County Sheriff Kip Thomas said.
Soon afterwards the child's father, 37-year-old Timothy Pickens, showed up and started to fight with police officers. He was arrested and charged with child cruelty, reckless conduct and obstruction. Police have not yet filed charges against the mother.
Collins, who said he has been clean and sober since his release from prison five years ago, has been hailed a hero. He said that he's using his experience to inspire others and show them that if they "[make] a serious effort to want to be changed, with God's help, you can be changed."
"When I was in prison, I made a very conscientious effort to change, and I did," Collins added. "It made me feel good, that I could be in society and do good."
