Toddler found on side of Highway 101, mother arrested

A mother has been arrested after the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office says her toddler was found wandering alone on Highway 101.

It happened Sunday night, when sheriffs say they got a call from a semi-truck driver who spotted the 3-year-old walking along the shoulder of Northbound Highway 101 near Chualar wearing only socks and shorts.

Sheriffs say the toddler was on the onset of hypothermia.

When they located the mother, Diane Aguilar, she told them she sent her 10-year-old son to look for the toddler on his bike. Aguilar told sheriffs that she also drove around looking for him as well. Sheriffs say she told them she did not think of calling 911.

Aguilar was arrested on felony child endangerment charges and her children have been released to Child Protective Services.