Local Hero: Port Monmouth Man Saves Toddler Found In Middle Of Rt. 36

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — When times are tough, heroes emerge. We all know someone who's making a difference right now in our communities. Here at Patch, we've launched an initiative to help recognize these everyday heroes. We’re working to let all your neighbors know about these outstanding people and their stories.

This October, Middletown resident Caitlin Del Popolo, 35, nominated her nephew, Andrew Osnato, age 25. This is because on the evening of Oct. 18, Osnato saved the life of a toddler boy they found in the middle of Rt. 36.

Here is their story:

Del Popolo and her husband recently invited Osnato to move in with them in the Port Monmouth section of Middletown.

It was in the early evening of Oct. 18 and Del Popolo said she and Osnato got into her car: She was headed to her overnight job in the newborn baby section of Riverview Medical Center, and she was going to drop Osnato off at his job at the Wawa in Leonardo, right on the way.

"At the last second of course I forgot my bag and had to run back inside, delaying us by a few minutes," she recalled. "So we get in the car and are driving down Rt. 36. It was about 6:30 p.m., starting to get dark and just as we neared Texas Avenue, I saw something in the middle of Rt. 36. I was like, 'What is that; is that a deer? Is that a dog?'"

Osnato started screaming "It's a baby!"

A toddler boy, who Del Polpopo estimates was under 2 years old, was right in the middle of Hwy. 36. A four-lane highway and one of Monmouth County's busiest roads. At dusk.

Del Polpolo said she immediately pulled to the side, turned her flashers on and got out and called to the boy. He instead ran farther into the road. There was a car down Rt. 36 coming towards him, and it did not appear to be slowing down.

"To this day, I don't know why but I froze. For three seconds I could not move," she said. "Instead, I just see Andrew in an instant spring across the highway, swoop up the baby and bring him to me."

She held the baby, who kept saying "Momma?, Momma?" and looked scared, in her arms while Osnato called 911.

Just then, she said a man came running out of a nearby home. He ran to them in a panic and kept shouting "How did this happen, how did he get out?!"

"I told him we found his toddler in the middle of the highway and definitely gave him some raised eyebrows," she said.

The man took the child and immediately walked away from them. However, seconds later he ran back to to the two "and gave us both the biggest hug."

Then he left.

Del Popolo said she spoke with Middletown Police, who told her they would be doing a child welfare check on the home. Middletown Police did not confirm this incident, but Del Popolo said she does not think any charges were filed.

"It happens," she said. "My children have walked into our driveway and I've panicked. Still, you can never be too careful."

Del Popolo said she wants to get the word out about what her nephew as done, as not many in Middletown know about it. Also, Osnato's heroic rescue gave her nephew "a much-needed boost of confidence."

"He's going through a hard time right now," she shared. "His mother recently moved out of state; that's why he's staying with us and other family. He really misses his younger siblings, who went with his mom. His life-saving rescue really was good for him and gave him a confidence boost. He just acted so quickly, so immediately. I think he needed this."

Also, both she and Osnato remarked to each other that had she not forgotten her bag that night, they may have missed seeing the child entirely. She also thinks if the boy had not been wearing bright orange shorts, she would not have seen him.

Local hero’s full name

Andrew Osnato

Local hero’s home state

New Jersey

Local hero’s Patch

Middletown

How do you know the local hero?

Nephew

What does the local hero do?

Store clerk at the Leonardo Wawa

Why do you believe the local hero should be recognized or honored?

He helped a toddler from getting hit by a car on highway 36 in port Monmouth

What's one thing you want everyone to know about the local hero?

He is a quick thinker and brave for reacting in such short time

Thank you for all you do, Andrew Osnato!

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Know someone making a difference in town? Nominate them as a local hero here.