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Boy, 2, Rescued From Vehicle That Plunged 100-Feet Over Hillside

VANDERGRIFT, Pa. (KDKA) -- A neighbor jumped into action, rescuing a 2-year-old boy after the vehicle he was in plunged 100-feet over a hillside Tuesday afternoon in Westmoreland County.

It happened around 3:30 p.m. in the 200 block of Sherman Avenue in Vandergrift.

Police say the boy's mother was cleaning the SUV when the boy jumped in the front seat and managed to put it in neutral. The vehicle started rolling out of the driveway, across an alleyway, and then over the hillside behind their home.

The vehicle plunged 100-150 feet, but stopped before reaching the railroad tracks at the bottom of the hill. It eventually leads down to the Kiski River.

The boy was not hurt, but his mom was as she tried to stop the SUV. She went over the hillside, too.

A neighbor jumped into action to help both after hearing the crash.

"I grabbed the kid. He was already out of the car, he pulled himself out of the car, and I grabbed him, made sure he was alright, made sure she was okay. Told them to get away from the vehicle. It wasn't on, but I wanted them away from the vehicle," said neighbor Alex Lee. "So, I brought the kid up the hill, handed him off up here to the boyfriend or the father, and went back down and helped her up."

Firefighters, police and paramedics all responded to the scene.

The woman suffered some scrapes and bruises. She was taken to a local hospital complaining of back pain. The boy's father says doctors are evaluating her for possible spinal injuries.

"Definitely lucky," said Lee. "To be able to walk back up this hill, definitely lucky."

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