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3-Year-Old Boy Found Walking Alone On Freeway Shoulder In Monterey County

MONTEREY (CBS SF) -- A child found walking along U.S. Highway 101 in Monterey County early Monday morning led to the arrest of his mother on suspicion of child endangerment and neglect, sheriff's officials said.

Diane Aguilar, 38, a Chualar resident, was also arrested on three outstanding warrants and was booked into Monterey County Jail, according to sheriff's officials.

Around 12:30 a.m., deputies responded to Highway 101 just north of Chualar, where a big-rig driver found a 3-year-old child walking by himself along the freeway's shoulder, sheriff's officials said.

The child was starting to develop hypothermia and was only wearing shorts and socks, sheriff's officials said.

He was taken to Natividad Medical Center for precautionary reasons, according to the sheriff's office.

About a half-hour later, deputies found Aguilar, who allegedly sent her 10-year-old child to look for the young boy, sheriff's officials said.

Aguilar looked for her 3-year-old in a car with her neighbor while her 5-year-old child stayed alone at home, according to the sheriff's office.

The home was not fit for anyone to reside in and the front door had no lock, sheriff's officials said.

All three children were placed into the custody of Child Protective Services, according to the sheriff's office.

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