South Bend, IN – Two young children were injured in a car fire that erupted near a Kroger store a grocery store around 10:48 a.m. in the 4500 block of W. Western Avenue. Quick-thinking bystanders rescued a 3-year-old boy and a 4-year-old girl from the burning vehicle before the arrival of emergency services. The children were initially taken to Memorial Hospital and later transferred to Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis for specialized care.
According to the South Bend Police Department and South Bend Fire Department, the emergency response teams arrived promptly after being dispatched to the scene. The firefighters managed to extinguish the vehicle fire, and the children were transported to the hospital for treatment. The mother of the victims was also treated for her injuries.
The heroic actions of the bystanders who intervened to rescue the children before the first responders arrived have been commended by both departments. The condition of the children has not been updated, and the investigation has been handed over to the St. Joseph County Special Victims Unit. This case continues to be under investigation by the St. Joseph County Special Victims Unit to determine the cause of the fire and any potential preventative measures.
