Driver Saves Two Toddlers Wandering on Florida Highway

John Brittingham's heart jumped when he saw two small figures crossing A1A highway in Cocoa Beach on Sunday afternoon.

The father of five and grandfather didn't hesitate. He pulled over and ran into the roadway to scoop up the toddlers, both girls too young to even speak.

"Your adrenaline goes through the roof, and you just don't even think," Brittingham said. The highway runs along Florida's coast about 59 miles east of Orlando, where traffic moves quickly and pedestrians are rare.

The girls couldn't tell Brittingham where they lived or who they were with. He carried them off the road and started searching nearby homes for their family.

At a vacation rental house, no one answered the front door. Walking around back, Brittingham discovered an open gate leading directly to the property.

Inside, he found an elderly couple and a young woman who immediately realized what had happened. "They went into like, 'Oh my God, we're so sorry,'" Brittingham recalled. He handed the girls back safely and reminded the family about the open gate.

Sunny's Take

This story captures something beautiful about everyday heroism. Brittingham could have assumed someone else would handle it or that the children belonged to someone nearby. Instead, he acted on instinct to protect two vulnerable kids he'd never met.

His calm response after the rescue matters too. He didn't lecture or shame the family, just made sure they understood the danger and reunited the children with their caregivers. Sometimes being a good Samaritan means leading with compassion rather than judgment.

The Brevard County Sheriff's Office is investigating to ensure the children's safety going forward. For now, two little girls are safe because one driver was paying attention at exactly the right moment.