The child looked up — frightened, weary, and silent. Then, suddenly, he broke into tears. The officer scooped him up carefully and carried him back to the patrol car.

Though bruised and scratched, the boy was alive — weak, but conscious. He was taken to the police station, where doctors examined him and made sure he was safe. His photo was quickly shared online in hopes of finding his family.

Not long after, the police received a call. The boy’s relatives explained that his mother had been missing for several days. She wasn’t at home, and her phone had been turned off.

The officers decided to return to the highway where the boy had been found and began searching the nearby area. After a couple of hours, they spotted something at the bottom of a steep ravine — an overturned car. It was completely crushed.