Mounties are thanking a group of Good Samaritans who managed to lift a car and rescue a baby trapped underneath in Nanaimo Tuesday morning.

Const. Gary O’Brien said a young mother was pushing her child in a car seat atop a stroller when a driver ran a red light and struck them in a marked intersection around 11:45 a.m.

The impact sent the child and car seat onto the road, and the vehicle came to a halt on top of them.

“We expected the worst case scenario,” O’Brien said. “Fortunately there were enough people around that they actually lifted the vehicle.”

“Five or six people actually picked it up and dragged the baby out.”

Remarkably, it appears no one was seriously hurt in the crash. The mom had a scrape on her leg and the baby suffered only bumps and bruises.

Both were taken to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, where the child was kept overnight for observation.

“It was a tragedy diverted,” O’Brien said. “The baby of course was shaken up by the ordeal.”

The 21-year-old remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators. He was issued a $368 ticket for driving without due attention.

Weather, speed and alcohol are not considered factors.

O’Brien said the Nanaimo RCMP detachment is considering an award for the bystanders who rushed in to help.