Joshua Garcia, 8, Saves Father from Car Accident in Massachusetts

Joshua Garcia, an 8-year-old Massachusetts boy, saved his father by surviving a car crash, swimming out of a river, and walking to his home barefoot to ask his mother to call 911. But Garcia’s father might be facing charges.
Joshua Garcia, 8, Saves Father from Car Accident in Massachusetts
Jack Phillips
7/5/2013
Updated:
7/18/2015

Joshua Garcia, an 8-year-old Massachusetts boy, saved his father by surviving a car crash, swimming out of a river, and walking to his home barefoot to ask his mother to call 911. But Garcia’s father might be facing charges.

Police said the boy was released from the Department of Children and Family Services on Thursday, reported ABC News.

Garcia and his father, Eugene Garcia, were driving in Fitchburg early in the morning when his car hit a guardrail and plunged into the Nashua River, fire official Brian Belliveau told the broadcaster. Joshua Garcia was able to swim out of the river before walking a mile to his home.

“He is a hero,” said police spokesman Paul McNamara of the boy.

His mother called 911and firefighters were ultimately able to save his father. Police, however, suspect that his father may have been excessively speeding when the accident took place.

After the accident, a Massachusetts state agency took over custody of the boy for a short while it investigates the family.

“They took over, just because they say it’s neglect driving at that time,” said aunt Priscila Columna, according to CBS Boston. “If he was intoxicated, or was not, or what is going on,” said Columna, regarding the questions that state workers had.

However, ABC reported that the boy was given back to his mother and father.

Family members said that Eugene Garcia has been busy working as a computer technician and moving, meaning he has not slept much recently.

“He usually drinks a lot of Red Bull,” said extended family member Rigoberto Guardado. “Sometimes he don’t even sleep.”

Jack Phillips is a breaking news reporter with 15 years experience who started as a local New York City reporter. Having joined The Epoch Times' news team in 2009, Jack was born and raised near Modesto in California's Central Valley. Follow him on X: https://twitter.com/jackphillips5
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