The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, January 8, 2008, honored a Muscoy man who comforted and quieted a three-year-old boy who had been struck by a vehicle, saving the child’s life, until fire units arrived.

Nepolian Marcelino Neri Valdez, himself a father of two boys, ages 12 and 11, comforted the victim, who had been impaled from chest to back by bicycle handlebars, and stopped him from moving and making his injuries worse, according to San Bernardino County Fire Captain Bob Campbell, who led the County Fire paramedic crew that responded. Besides the impaling injury, the boy also suffered a serious leg fracture and multiple abrasions in the accident.

Campbell said Valdez’s actions prevented the boy’s injuries from worsening and saved the child’s life. The handlebar missed the boy’s lungs, heart and key arteries, Campbell said, and Valdez’s calm, decisive action in an emotionally charged situation prevented damage to vital organs, Campbell said.

At the January 8 Board of Supervisors meeting, Valdez received a board resolution recognizing his life-saving actions. Supervisor Josie Gonzales, Fifth District, presented the framed resolution to Valdez, with Campbell and his crew, fire chiefs, and Valdez’ sons and other family members looking on.

The accident occurred at about 7:36 p.m., October 26, 2007 in the unlighted 2300 block of Kern Street in Muscoy. Campbell said the boy was pushing a bicycle down the middle of the street when he was struck by a small sedan whose occupants did not see the youngster in time to stop.

The child is expected to make a full recovery.
 

---

Images
(Click to enlarge)