Tense video shows small child run down highway, almost get hit by car before being saved by cop

Terrifying video shows a small child running down a Florida highway at night — almost getting hit by a car before a cop managed to scoop him up to safety.

Sergeant Shield was cruising down Highway 41 in North Port late Tuesday when he spotted the unidentified youngster in shorts and a T-shirt running between two lanes.

Dashcam footage shows a child running along a highway. North Port Police Department

The boy was almost hit by a car. North Port Police Department

As he slowed to turn around, his dashcam showed an oblivious driver in a white SUV cruising the same way — and narrowly missing the running boy as the officer blared his lights and siren in warning

“I got a small child running down the road in front of Lowe’s, just almost got hit by a car,” Shield radios in.

The boy — who is developmentally challenged, according to cops — attempts to run away, but is caught after the officer jumps out and gives chase on foot.

He was returned home safely after the “terrifying” ordeal for his family, the department said — stressing that the parents were not at fault for the boy escaping their home.

The child runs from Sergeant Shield. North Port Police Department

“The child, who has developmental delays, wandered from their home, despite having safety devices in place to prevent something like this from happening,” a department spokesperson said. North Port Police Department

“The child, who has developmental delays, wandered from their home, despite having safety devices in place to prevent something like this from happening,” a department spokesperson said in an Instagram video.

“Thanks to Sergeant Shield’s quick thinking, the child was able to be safely reunited with his family,” police said.