![\"\"](\"https:\/\/newsroom.ocfl.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Childonhwy-crop-240x300.jpg\")
<\/p>\nAn average day turned out to be anything but when two astute electricians working for the Orange County Utilities Water Division saved a child from the dangers of a nearby highway.<\/p>\n
Virendra \u201cArune\u201d Persaud and Abdiel Otero Ortiz routinely travel between the county\u2019s water treatment plants repairing and upgrading electrical systems.<\/p>\n
However, on a recent Friday, they saw a young boy by the on-ramp of Central Florida\u2019s busy 417 toll-road on the east side of the county. He was clad in pajamas, tennis shoes and playing on a scooter.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Acting quickly, the duo pulled over their vehicle to approach the child and then contacted the Orange County Sheriff\u2019s Office.<\/p>\n
Arune and Abdiel stayed with the child until safely handing him off for follow-up by the authorities.<\/p>\n
The child was unharmed thanks to the swift action of these two Orange County Utilities employees.<\/p>\n
Mayor Jerry Demings heralded their actions. \u201cThese two \u2018heroes\u2019 went above and beyond to make sure this child was safe,\u201d he said. \u201cWe are grateful for their quick thinking and that the child was saved from what could have been a terrible tragedy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Orange County Utilities instills in its teams that serving the community is part of its overall mission.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe’re very proud that there was a happy outcome thanks to our two team members who did the right thing to assist the child,\u201d said Ed Torres, Director of Orange County Utilities. \u201cThese individuals acted on their \u2018servants\u2019 hearts,\u2019 which prevented a young child from losing his life on that busy highway. We\u2019re thankful that it worked out and the child was safe.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pictured, from left to right, with their fleet vehicle are Arune and Abdiel.<\/p>\n
Way to go heroes from Orange County Utilities!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
An average day turned out to be anything but when two astute electricians working for the Orange County Utilities Water Division saved a child from the dangers of a nearby highway. Virendra \u201cArune\u201d Persaud and Abdiel Otero Ortiz routinely travel between the county\u2019s water treatment plants repairing and upgrading electrical systems. However, on a recent […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31,"featured_media":22094,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[660,149],"class_list":["post-22093","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community-services","tag-orange-county-utilities","tag-utilities"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n