FACTORYVILLE, PA — An 18-year-old Pennsylvania woman is facing charges after state police say her 3-year-old daughter was found alone in the street in Wyoming County.
Troopers were called to Riverside Drive in Factoryville around 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 17 after a report that a young child was wandering in the roadway. Neighbors found the girl unattended and took her to safety before police arrived.
When troopers reached the scene, they say they found the child’s mother asleep nearby. State police identified the woman as Izabel Vanvleck of Springville.
How the child was found on Riverside Drive
According to Pennsylvania State Police, the situation came to light after someone reported a small child in the roadway. The child was only 3 years old and was alone when neighbors stepped in.
Factoryville is in Wyoming County, and Riverside Drive became the focus of the response after the call came in that morning. Police have not said how long the child had been outside alone before neighbors found her.
What officers did confirm is that the neighbors moved quickly to get the child out of danger and that troopers then took over the scene.
Mother identified by troopers at the scene
State police said the child’s mother was located when troopers arrived. Vanvleck, who is 18, was asleep, according to investigators.
Police identified her as a resident of Springville, another community in Wyoming County. No additional details were released about what led up to the child being outside alone or whether anyone else was present.
The response from troopers came from the Tunkhannock Patrol Unit, which handled the call after the report of a wandering child.
Charge announced for endangering the welfare of a child
State police said Vanvleck will be charged with endangering the welfare of a child. The charging decision followed the investigation at the scene.
No court information or hearing date was included in the police release. It was also not immediately clear whether Vanvleck had been formally booked at the time the information was released.
The charge reflects police concern over the child being left unsupervised in a public roadway, where neighbors first spotted her and helped prevent harm.
Police said no injuries were reported
Officials said the 3-year-old was not reported injured. That was the most immediate reassuring detail in the state police account of the incident.
Even so, the call prompted a quick response because a child that young alone in traffic or on a street can face serious danger. Police did not release any information suggesting the child required hospital treatment.
The case centers on the safety risk that existed before neighbors intervened and brought the girl to safety.
What remains unclear after the Pennsylvania State Police response
Beyond the charge and the child’s safe recovery, state police did not release many additional details. They did not say why the child was alone or whether any further action was expected beyond the criminal charge.
The incident also left unanswered questions about the conditions inside the home or how long the mother had been asleep when troopers arrived. Police have not released any broader findings from the investigation.
For now, the case stands as a local child endangerment matter in Factoryville, with neighbors credited for spotting the child quickly and getting her out of the street.
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