A one-and-a-half year old boy is defying the odds after being hit by a pickup truck backing out of a driveway Saturday, south of Bakersfield.
Ely Gomez is being assessed by doctors in Madera. The little boy's family said he injured his head, but walked away with no broken bones.
The 18-month-old was awake and talking Monday at Madera Children's Hospital, according to his family, just two days after he was hit by a pickup truck.
California Highway Patrol officers say the boy's uncle, 21-year-old Daniel Espinoza was backing out of his driveway on Adobe Road, when he hit the toddler.
The family said Espinoza ran inside to change his clothes and didn't see the toddler follow after him.
"He didn't see that the baby was following him because he's always following us," said Manuel Garcia, Ely Gomez's uncle.
"When he moved his truck he didn't see him because the truck is too high and he's small, so he reacted when he heard the baby screaming," he continued.
The family said doctors are optimistic. There is an 80 percent chance the little boy will not need surgery.
