Toddler Injured After Getting Hand Stuck In Mission Viejo Mall Escalator

MISSION VIEJO, CA — A mother experienced some frightening moments Thursday afternoon at the Shops at Mission Viejo Mall when her child, who was riding on an escalator, let out a piercing scream as his hand became stuck in the moving parts of the hand-rail.

A witness saw the mother fall to her knees beside the screaming toddler as the father used the emergency shut off to stop the escalator, a witness said.

"I am shaking," said one witness. "They got him out. I'm guessing the arm is broken but he's out. I can't even tell you how awful to hear this little boy screaming. He had to only be three at most."

Witnesses called 911 and Orange County Fire Authority quickly responded to the scene.

"A child of about 3 to 5 years of age got their hand stuck in the escalator at just before 4:30 p.m.," Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Larry Kurtz said. "He was extracted quickly in a technical rescue."

There was no word as to the severity of the child's injury, only that he was taken to the hospital for examination.