Police: Colorado man tossed toddler into busy traffic

July 18 (UPI) -- A Colorado man allegedly threw a 2-year-old toddler into oncoming traffic, but a passerby saved the child's life, according to reports.

Colorado Springs police say Bryant Jerel Hickcox, 30, cradled his young cousin in his arms as he walked up and threw the child into the busy street.

Tracy Willner happened to be passing by on her way home and saw a man, believed to be Hickox, throw the child. At first, she thought he had thrown a bag or a dog, reported KKTV.

"I don't think the realization has hit. ... He threw a baby into traffic," she said. "He threw him hard into traffic and the baby rolled. Thank God the lady in front of us swerved and was paying attention."

Willner said she immediately ran out of her car to rescue the child.

"I grabbed the baby and just held him. He was soaking wet and crying," she said. "I just held him right here and for a little while he stopped crying. I just wanted to keep him as warm and as safe as possible."

As Willner attended to the child, two other men ran onto the scene and held Hickox until police arrived.

According to an arrest report, Hickox called the baby "the devil" before throwing him into traffic. He later denied he said that.

The child did not suffer serious injuries.

Hickox was detained in El Paso County jail under a $50,000 bond.