MEXICALI, Calif. - A mother in Mexicali leaves her child with special needs in her vehicle which then catches fire while she's running errands.
The woman was identified by Mexican authorities as Rosario Sandez Aviles. She allegedly parked her pick-up truck and left her 11-year-old child unattended while she shopped.
The car then caught fire.
An off-duty police officer happened to be passing by and saw the vehicle up in flames with the boy inside. He rushed to the car and broke a window to get the unconscious child out.
When paramedics arrived at the scene, they treated the boy for burn injuries on both arms and smoke inhalation.
After authorities located the mom, she told police she had been gone for only a few minutes and didn't know what could have caused the fire.
Mexican police says Avilez faces criminal charges.
They also praise the heroic actions by the off-duty officer.
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