In San Diego, Cinco de Mayo is always a big deal – especially at Old Town State Historic Park, where a free, festive fiesta is held every year in celebration of the Mexican holiday.

This year, the weekend-long event – now in its 31st year – kicks off Friday with an all-day Happy Hour at participating Old Town restaurants. On Saturday and Sunday, the party continues with loads of entertainment from 11 a.m. to midnight Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday at four live music stages spread throughout Old Town.

The music stages include the Café Coyote Stage at Conde Street and San Diego Avenue, the Fiesta de Reyes Stage in the heart of the park, the Dos XX Beer Garden Stage on San Diego Avenue, between Henry and Twiggs streets, and the Children’s Stage between Harney and Congress streets.

Live entertainment will include mariachi bands, singers, folklorico dancing and even a churro eating contest (Children’s Stage, 2:40 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday).

In addition to the various stages, live music will also be featured at Barra Barra Saloon and Cosmopolitan Restaurant & Hotel on both Saturday and Sunday.

The fiesta will also boast a Low Rider Car Show, two cantina beer gardens a high-end tequila sampling area and a children’s play area. Drink and food specials will be offered throughout the weekend too at more than 10 participating Old Town San Diego restaurants.

Also, vendors will line San Diego Avenue, uniting for a bustling “mercado” where attendees can buy an array of handmade treasures and trinkets – from leather pouches and clothing to jewelry.

While the lively outdoor fest can certainly be enjoyed on foot, attendees can also hitch a ride on a stagecoach along the streets. And, although Old Town has ample parking, this event does draw a large crowd so attendees may want to consider taking the Trolley to the event and hopping off at the Old Town Transit Center at 4005 Taylor St.

By the way, the celebration will continue into Monday – on actual Cinco de Mayo – with more live entertainment at the Fiesta de Reyes Stage from 2 p.m. through midnight.

For more information on this jam-packed party, including a full, stage-by-stage entertainment schedule and details on drink and food specials, visit the Fiesta Old Town website.

Now, for those who’d rather celebrate Cincode Mayo at home this year, you also have plenty of options.

Like many local eateries, Old Town’s Casa Guadalajara caters (see video above), so you can host a Mexican feast at home. Since we’re in San Diego, after all, stay-at-home revelers can also pick up some carry-out from thousands of taco shops and restaurants around the county.

This could include carry-out from two local eateries recently listed in a round-up from “The Daily Meal” of the “Best Tacos in America”: Mariscos El Pulpo on Market Street, where the octopus tacos come highly recommended, or Las Cuatro Milpas, where the shredded pork taco appears to be a fan favorite.

Or, as a San Diegan well-versed in the art of making tacos, you could always pick up a few ingredients from the grocery store and make your own tacos at home.

Of course, don’t forget the margaritas.

A classic margarita can be made using this popular recipe: 1.5 ounces of tequila, half an ounce of triple sec, one ounce of fresh lime juice, some sour mix, ice and salt or sugar on the rim, if that’s your preference.

Happy Cinco, San Diego!
 

San Diego drivers take it upon themselves to pull over a driver who they say caused a multiple vehicle crash in National City.

According to the California Highway Patrol, witnesses first reported a man in a Lexus driving at excessive speeds around southbound Interstate 5 and Front Street, weaving in and out of traffic at around 80 mph. 

Near 24th Street in National City, he hit a red minivan, which spun out of control and hit another car, according to witnesses. 

For a brief time, the Lexus driver stopped, but then he cut across six lanes of traffic and headed east on State Route 54. 

Others on the freeway saw what happened and decided to chase the Lexus driver down.

Somehow, the vigilante drivers literally surrounded the Lexus on the freeway and forced the driver to pull over at the SR-54 off-ramp to Highland Avenue.

When officers arrived, they say he claimed the accelerator got stuck, even though witnesses noted that he had stopped briefly. 

The Lexus driver was arrested for felony hit and run. CHP officers said he had been drinking, but he was not over the DUI limit. 

Neither he nor his passenger were injured in the crash.

The CHP will continue investigating the entire incident.

 Some East County Residents are looking for changes at a skatepark just a week after it opened.

The Lakeside Skatepark opened April 25 on Lindo Lane, and residents say they like having the skatepark because it keeps kids out of trouble.

"I love the fact that it's an open park that kids can come and enjoy and families can come and enjoy and give somewhere for the kids, just give the kids a place to go and have fun," said mother Michelle Laxson.

But Lakeside mothers like Laxson wish to see a change in one, big rule.

As it stands, the park has a skateboard-only mandate, meaning BMX bikes, scooters and other rides aren’t allowed within the park. The rules are noted on signs nearby.

Grandfather Pat Ireland said his 4-year-old grandson enjoys riding his bicycle at the park and doesn’t see anything wrong with it.

"The signage over there says you can only use skateboards in here. Well to me that's ridiculous," said Ireland.

But opinions differ depending who you ask.

If you ask a hardcore skateboarder like David Galloway, he says skateboards-only is the way it should be.

"Only because we had all these companies that you know, donated so much money for skateboards-only,” said Galloway. “And I'm not against the biking community or the scooter community, but bikes are just too big for this park."

NBC 7 talked to Jan Caldwell, spokesperson for the San Diego Sheriff’s Department. She said deputies have started citing those not obeying the skateboard-only law.

They have also begun writing tickets to those not wearing the proper safety gear such as helmets and elbow pads.

Multiple spot fires scorched approximately 15 acres of brush off Interstate 8 in San Diego's East County Saturday morning, Cal Fire officials said.

The fires began at around 10:45 a.m. near eastbound I-8 between east Willows and Japatul Valley roads in the Pine Valley area, close to the Cleveland National Forest.

Cal Fire Capt. Kendal Bortisser said crews were initially tackling at least three spot fires along the freeway. That turned into five small fires that ranged in acreage.

By 11:10 a.m., officials had closed down one traffic lane on I-8 so fire crews would have more room to work. The lane was expected to be closed for at least two hours.

At 11:15 a.m., Cal Fire officials said one of the spot fires had been knocked down, but crews were still working to battle the others.

By 12:20 p.m., Cleveland National Forest officials said the fires were about 20 percent contained. Crews planned to spend the rest of the day battling the fires, possibly into Sunday if needed.

No structures were threatened.

Officials confirmed at least two firefighters were injured on duty during these fires. One firefighter sustained an ankle injury while another suffered heat exhaustion. Medics planned to airlift the firefighter suffering from heat exhaustion out of the area to a nearby ground ambulance.

Check back for updates on this developing story.
 

Congressional leaders, including U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter, are pushing for the release of a U.S. Marine veteran who was detained in Mexico last month for bringing outlawed weapons into the country.

Marine Reservist Andrew Tahmooressi, 25, of Weston, Fla., was arrested April 1 after driving his black Ford pickup into Tijuana at the San Ysidro Port of Entry, near south San Diego.

Tahmooressi, who was in possession of three U.S.-registered firearms, got lost near the border after dark and took a wrong turn into Mexico, his family said.

Now Tahmooressi, who was in the San Diego area to receive treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder, is shackled to a cot with his limbs restrained following an escape attempt at the La Mesa penitentiary, his mother, Jill Tahmooressi, told NBC Miami.

On Friday, Congressman Hunter sent a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry asking the State Department to “secure Andrew’s release,” saying it’s “critical” that the Marine be released as soon as possible.

"Andrew is neither a criminal nor a weapons trafficker, and his incarceration is an extraordinarily unfortunate occurrence," Hunter writes.

He described how Tahmooressi reportedly suffered a knife wound to the neck and was scheduled for transfer to a maximum security facility about 40 miles outside Tijuana. The congressman also explains how Tahmooressi has served three combat tours in Afghanistan.

• Read Duncan's Entire Letter Here

To date, U.S. officials have visited Tahmooressi at least nine times since his arrest.

His trial is expected to begin on May 28. In the meantime, a WhiteHouse.gov petition has been posted to demand his release and a Facebook page -- "Free USMC Sgt Tahmooressi from Mexican Jail" -- has also been set up to support the soldier.

His mother said the wait for her son’s release has been agonizing.

"I've gotta be big and brave for Andrew's sake," said Jill Tahmooressi. "You know that expression that you leave no man behind."

The mother is begging anyone and everyone to take a moment to sign the White House petition this month so her son can finally come home.

"I'm pleading to the American public, to sign the White House petition; so that I can get that 100,000 signatures this month of May," she said.

Jill was able to visit her son at the prison on April 14.

The worst night for Jill was about four days into her son's time in prison.

"He said, 'Mom, I'm not going to make it through the night, I'm gonna be killed tonight. Whatever you do, don't come down here to ask questions’”

San Diego-based immigration attorney Saman Nasseri said Tahmooressi’s case is a difficult one.
“Mexico has very strict laws about carrying firearms as well. We have to respect those laws going into that country,” Nasseri told NBC 7 on Friday.

The attorney said the case is even more complicated because it involves two federal governments and different law enforcement agencies.

“You’re basically asking the U.S. government to tell the Mexican government, ‘Please don’t press charges on this person even though he broke your laws,’” he explained.

And, though leaders and Tahmoressi’s family are doing all they can to set him free, Nasseri said that right now, it’s really a waiting game.

“Unfortunately, he’s just to have to wait,” said Nasseri. “A little bit more time until the U.S. government and the Mexican government can get situated with each other and a resolution can be found.”

Between brunch, gift cards, gadgets, beauty supplies and jewelry, Americans will spend nearly $163 on Mother’s Day gifts this year, according to a survey recently released by the National Retail Federation (NRF).

The NRF’s “Mother’s Day Spending Survey” says Americans will shell out an average of $162.94 on mom, down $6 from last year when the same survey recorded a high of $168.94. In all, total spending on Mother’s Day is expected to reach $19.9 billion nationwide.

So, what sort of goodies will mom receive?

According to the survey, 81.3 percent of consumers will show their appreciation for mother with a greeting card, while 66.6 percent gift mom with her favorite flowers. Another 33.5 percent of consumers will buy spring sweaters and blouses for mom, spending a total of $1.7 billion nationwide on apparel and accessories.

Mom’s loved ones will also splurge on books and CDs, housewares or gardening tools. A total of 13.1 percent of consumers will buy mom an electronic item such as a tablet, camera or smartphone.

The survey says consumers will spend approximately $1.5 billion nationwide on pampering for mom, including gifts like a day at the spa, while $3.6 billion will be spent on jewelry for mom. Special Mother’s Day outings like brunch or dinner will cost consumers about $3.8 billion nationwide.

Now, if mom has her eye on a specific item, she may get a chance to go shopping. At least 43.3 percent of those shopping for mom this year will buy her a gift card.

The NRF says 33.5 percent of shoppers will head to specialty stores to buy a gift for mom, while 32.4 percent hit department stores, 24 percent opt for discount stores and 29 percent shop online.

Though the average consumer will spend just under $163 on mom, the NRF says 25 to 34-year-old consumers will spend a bit more on their mothers, an average of $216.53.

And it looks like moms of all kinds will be showered with presents.

The survey says 63.9 percent of consumers will shop for their mother or stepmother, while 22.5 percent will shop for their wife, 9.2 percent will shop for their daughter and 6.6 percent will shop for their grandmother.

Richmond, Va., police have arrested a 16-year-old and charged him with murder in the death of an 8-year-old boy.

Initially, detectives were given information that the suspect was an adult white male with scraggly facial hair, but later determined the victim had been threatened and intimidated by the suspect, who is a teenage black male. Detectives identified and located the suspect and took him for medical evaluation before being charged with the crimes.

The victim, 8-year-old Martin Cobb, was defending his 12-year-old sister from the alleged attacker, who was trying to sexually assault the girl. The suspect struck and killed Cobb on train tracks behind the children’s home.

The suspect also faces a charge of strangulation in connection with the assault on the girl.

The family told NBC News that the girl was being treated at VCU Medical Center and was feeling “ok.”

A vigil is planned for Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. at the Abundant Life Church in Richmond.

The MTA said Saturday that a section of rail that snapped when a subway train derailed Friday morning had been manufactured just last November and installed only weeks ago.

The statement from transit officials came as crews worked to repair the track and remove the train after six cars derailed and injured 19 people.

The MTA said the section of rail that snapped would be sent for metallurgical testing as part of the ongoing investigation into the derailment.

Subway service on the local E and F lines, which had been suspended, resumed Saturday afternoon following the derailment Friday morning of a Manhattan-bound F train with 1,000 riders on board near Broadway and 60th Street in Woodside.

Train service on the two lines was expected to be suspended again Saturday night for further repair and cleanup work, the MTA announced.

Firefighters had to rescue hundreds of passengers, four of whom were seriously injured, out of the subway tunnel through a sidewalk grate. 

• WATCH: Exclusive Video From the Tunnel Just After Train Derails

The tunnel was dark, hot and full of dust as emergency responders climbed down through a sidewalk grate to evacuate the train, leading people out in groups of 20. Firefighters and EMTs went into every car to talk to riders and keep them calm before the evacuation, which took about an hour, began, Deputy Assistant Chief James Leonard said.

• FDNY Describes the Harrowing Rescue
• PHOTOS: Dramatic Images From the Scene
• Subway Derailments Over the Last 30 Years

Some passengers told NBC 4 New York they heard screeching and banging as the train came to a sudden halt. 

"We heard these sounds of metal clanging," one rescued rider told NBC 4 New York. "It just stopped and no one knew what it was."

Officials said the track was also damaged, and it would be several days before full service could be restored. Crews were working overnight to free the derailed train and repair the track. 

The MTA said it was not immediately clear how fast the train was going, or what the speed limit is in that area.

The E and F trains will be running in two sections Saturday, and shuttle buses would also be in opration. The 7 train was set to make all local stops in Queens. Here are the latest service advisories:

 A woman was being treated for life-threatening injuries Saturday night after she was hit while crossing the road in Mira Mesa. 

According to San Diego Police, the 65-year-old woman was walking in a crosswalk at the intersection of Mira Mesa Boulevard and Westmore Road around 6:20 p.m. 

At the same time, a 30-year-old man driving a 2002 Jaguar made a left turn at the same intersection. 

The car struck the woman, who was taken to the nearest hospital for serious head trauma. Her identity has not been released.

The driver was not injured, and alcohol was not a factor in the crash, police said. 

The crash is still under investigation.

Talk about a seriously sweet send-off. On Saturday, San Diego Girl Scouts and supporters gathered on the flight deck of USS Midway to watch a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter take away thousands of boxes of cookies, all destined to be delivered to U.S. military troops overseas.

“The helicopter came and the people went down to net the cookies and tied it to the helicopter and they just took off with it,” explained Girl Scout Jade Jocson. “[The net] dangled from the bottom of the helicopter – all those cookies. It was all cases of Thin Mints. It was cool.”

The cookie airlift was all part of Operation Thin Mint, a program that originated in San Diego County in 2002 designed to provide cookies and support to U.S. service men and women deployed overseas.

Girl Scouts accept donations for the program each year from cookie customers and use that money to send boxes of the sweet treats to the troops.

Over the past 12 years, Operation Thin Mint has been able to send more than 2.5 million boxes of cookies to service members serving in Afghanistan, Iraq, Africa, Japan, Korea, and the Persian Gulf, Western Pacific and Indian Ocean.

“Wherever service members are, they’ll get Girl Scout cookies from San Diego,” explained Jo Dee Jacob, CEO of Girl Scouts San Diego. “Operation Thin Mint is about a taste of home and a note to show that we care. All of us have friends, neighbors, family members that are in the military. San Diego is a military town and we want to tell them that we care.”

Jacob said the program gets solid support year after year from San Diegans and eager Girl Scouts who do their best to raise money for the program. In turn, Jacob said Girl Scouts learn “patriotism, community service and caring” through Operation Thin Mint.

With a long journey abroad to the troops, Jacob said the cookies are packaged with much care. They’re sent in special, air-conditioned containers to keep them from melting.

“We make sure that they’re delicious on arrival,” added Jacob.

Though several Girl Scouts from San Diego Troop 4466 said selling cookies and collecting donations for the program is “hard work,” they’re happy to do it.

Jocson said many of her customers like donating to Operation Thin Mint once she explains what it’s all about.

“[I tell them] Operation Thin Mint is where you donate money – any type, any lose change – and it will go to cookies. We will buy cookies to the military abroad,” she said.

Saturday’s send-off party at USS Midway was the 10th annual celebration of its kind on the flight deck.

Jacob said more than 3,000 people attended the free event in support. Each Girl Scout in attendance received a star patch and mini U.S. Flag as a token of thanks for their efforts in continuing to make Operation Thin Mint a sweet, sweet success.

 A man arrested for stealing vodka and champagne from a Murrieta grocery store is suspected of swiping more than $20,000 worth of alcohol in five months, according to Murrieta police.

Officers were called out to the Ralph’s grocery store in the 23800 block of Washington Avenue around 8:30 p.m. Friday for reports of an alcohol theft in progress.

As they pulled up, officers caught Dominque Clayton, 22, as he was getting into his vehicle to flee, said Murrieta Police Sgt. Scott Montez.

Inside the suspect’s car, officers found alcohol bottles worth $132 from this incident, but according to Montez, more incriminating evidence lay in the trunk – $1,200 worth of alcohol products stolen from other Ralph’s stores.

Officers were able to confirm where the bottles were stolen from by using the UPC barcode labels.

Montez said Clayton, a Riverside resident, has been tied to more than $20,000 worth of alcohol product thefts in San Bernardino, Orange County, Riverside and Los Angeles over the past five months.

According to investigators, Clayton admitted to liquor thefts dating back as far as three years, though it’s unclear which businesses were hit.

 A former San Diego resident has pleaded guilty to covering up a bank fraud scheme for nearly five years, according to U.S. Attorney Laura E. Duffy.

On Thursday, Laura Ortuondo, 33, admitted to one count of making false statements to federal agents as part of a plan to defraud La Jolla Bank of $1.8 million.

In 2008, Ortuondo worked as an assistant for small business owner Annand Sliuman.
Prosecutors said Ortuondo helped Sliuman get a $1.8 million loan from La Jolla Bank in May 2008 by submitting two fraudulent tax forms to the bank.

The false records made it look as though Sliuman was eligible for the Small Business Administration (SBA) loan, which he obtained.

Court records say Ortuondo spent the next five years thwarting a federal investigation into the fraud.

According to Duffy, the cover-up started in Oct. 2008 when Ortuondo lied to investigators, claiming she did not know she had submitted false documents.

She also helped Sliuman destroy her personal laptop to get rid of incriminating evidence, prosecutors said. Ortuondo then convinced her former husband to lie to federal agents and a federal grand jury for her, saying he had destroyed the laptop, prosecutors said.

Three years later during another interview with federal agents, Ortuondo maintained that she didn’t know about the fraud and that her ex-husband destroyed the laptop.

But her story changed on Thursday as she admitted to making false statements to the agents with the intent of obstructing the investigation, the U.S. attorney said.

“Fraudulent schemes like this undermine our country's economy and ultimately leave American taxpayers on the hook. The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect our precious tax dollars from waste, fraud and abuse,” said Daphne Hearn, the FBI special agent in charge at the San Diego field office.

Ortuondo faces a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine at her July 25 sentencing.

Sliuman has already pleaded guilty in a separate case to bribing a La Jolla Bank officer in exchange for loan approvals and has admitted to his role in the fraud and cover-up. He will be sentenced on Sept. 26 and faces up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine.

La Jolla Bank failed two years after giving out the fraudulent loan. It was taken over by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation after the bank fell $1 billion in debt.

A San Diego man convicted for receiving child pornography on his computer was sentenced to 14 years in behind bars this week, federal officials confirmed.

Howard Willie Carter II, 37, will spend the next 168 months in federal prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release.

According to the FBI and court documents, in August 2012, Carter received and viewed more than 600 images and videos of children engaged in sexually explicit conduct. Forensic investigators found the images after reviewing his computer. The majority of the images involved minors under the age of 12, officials said.

Investigators from the San Diego Regional Computer Forensic Laboratory (RCFL) revealed that Carter also attempted to upload one of those pornographic videos to YouTube to be viewed by others.

Carter has been in custody since Oct. 17, 2012 and pled guilty in this case on Nov. 14, 2013.

He has a criminal record, including being investigated as a possible co-conspirator in a plot to bomb the Federal Reserve Bank in New York City two years ago.

The primary suspect in that crime was Bangladeshi national Quazi Nafis, who allegedly tried to detonate a parked van filled with that he believed were explosives in front of the Federal Reserve Bank.

Carter went by the name "Yaqueen” on a terrorist watch list and a man named “Yaqueen” was identified as a co-conspirator of Nafis in federal documents.

In October 2012, FBI agents raided an apartment Carter shared with a roommate in City Heights.

Carter was arrested on the child pornography charges and his attorney at the time said his client's alleged involvement with the NYC bomb plot was nothing but "speculation."

Due to Carter’s criminal history, a judge said his 14-year sentence was warranted.

U.S. Attorney Laura E. Duffy said this case should serve as a warning to others involved in the similar exploitation of children.

“Unfortunately, child exploitation is an epidemic in this nation,” said Duffy. “Howard Carter’s actions highlight the dangerousness of this type of activity in our community. I hope this long sentence will prevent him and others from exploiting a victim in the future.”

FBI Special Agent in Charge Daphne Hearn said the sentence was fair, given the seriousness of the crime.

“Each image Mr. Carter possessed represented the victimization of a child. We hope today's sentencing sends a clear message to anyone involved in the online sexual exploitation of a child, that the FBI will not tolerate the victimization and destruction of our children's future. We will remain vigilant and committed to removing sexual predators from our children's lives,” said Hearn.
 

Firefighters were called to a brush fire moving in North City Sunday, just east of Del Mar. 

The fire was spotted behind Rancho Dorado Bend near Rancho Verde Trail around 12:20 p.m., and smoke can be seen rising in the distance behind Torrey Pines High School. 

As of 12:45 p.m., it had burned about two acres of heavy vegetation, according to San Diego Fire-Rescue officials.

Structures were threatened for a time, but officials did not order any evacuations. 

Authorities said the fire was extinguished around 1 p.m.

However, a large hot spot area is possible, so crews will be cleaning and checking the area for at least another hour. 

No structures were damaged, and no injuries were reported.

Evacuations were ordered when a brush fire reached about one-quarter acre Sunday afternoon in Mid City, according to San Diego Fire-Rescue officials. 

The flames started spreading north of El Cajon Blvd. near Fairmount Ave. around 12:30 p.m.

Crews had to stage around structures to prevent them from being damaged or destroyed. San Diego Police officers assisted with brief residential evacuations, according to Officer Dan Lasher. 

However, by 1 p.m., firefighters had contained the fire and were working to mop up hot spots. 

Carlsbad native Shaun White posted a selfie to his Twitter page from a Pennsylvania high school prom Saturday.

The two-time Olympic gold medalist reportedly crashed a prom after being invited as one student's date several months ago. .

According to the Huffington Post, Carly Monzo made a video a asking White to prom. She and her friends also tweeted him but they never heard back.

Then on Saturday night, to Monzo's surprise, White showed up at the prom in Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania.

White posted some potos on Twitter with #promcrashers.

Monzo said White's band, Bad Things, even played a few songs.

Oceanside police are investigating the death of a man struck and killed while crossing the street Saturday night.

An SUV traveling westbound on State Route 76 was approaching Benet Road around 10:30 p.m. when the vehicle struck a man who was crossing the road, police said.

Emergency personnel tried to save the man’s life but he was pronounced dead at the scene, officials said.

His name was not released pending family notification.

Officials said it does not appear alcohol caused the collision.

Traffic was diverted around the intersection for several hours.
 

When a man tried to enter an Eastlake home Saturday night, the homeowner opened fire, shooting and injuring him. Now, officials say the victim was intoxicated and thought the stranger’s home was his own.

Chula Vista police said the shooting happened just before 9 p.m. Saturday at a home on Rutgers Avenue, north of Otay Lakes Road and east of State Route 125.

Officers say a man first tried to get in through the front door but unsuccessful, he broke down a side gate and tried to break through the sliding glass door in the back of the home.

The homeowner was inside the home with his family, police said, and told the man several times to leave.

The resident armed himself with a handgun and called 911 for help.

Officers say when the intoxicated man was trying to break the sliding glass door, the homeowner shot him once in the leg.

The shooting victim was taken to Scripps Mercy Hospital. He’s described as a 41-year-old man.

Chula Vista police are investigating the incident. No word on whether charges will be filed.
 

A 17 month-old boy returned to his Jamul home Sunday after suffering several bites from a rattlesnake.

The toddler was playing outside his grandmother's home on Manzanita Way Friday afternoon when he started to cry.

The child's mother soon realized the boy, named A.J., had snake bites on his stomach.

A medical helicopter airlifted the toddler to Rady Children's Hospital where he was treated for multiple bites from a baby rattlesnake, according to Cal Fire.

According to Dr. Arit Edwin-Enyenihi at Rady Children's Hospital, the boy is lucky to be alive. He did not have as much venom in him as doctors expected.

The family tells NBC 7 as soon as they got the A.J. home, they discovered another baby rattlesnake in the backyard. Before this incident, a family member said they’d never seen a snake in the yard.

• Read: Infant Bitten by Rattlesnake Multiple Times

If you spot a rattlesnake on your property, calmly back away from the critter and leave it alone. Then, call San Diego County Department of Animal Services for assistance in safely removing the snake. Check this listing for animal services around the county.

DAS also suggests being aware of your surroundings at all times if you are walking anywhere snakes might be, which means avoiding becoming distracted by your cell phone.

If you’re walking your dog,keep it on a leash, that way you can pull your pet away quickly if you encounter a rattlesnake.

Wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes while walking or hiking and stay on paths or trails, and avoid tall grass, weeds and brush where snakes might hide.

Also, make sure you can always see the path ahead of you and look for snakes that might blend into the ground before picking up rocks or sticks.

 A vacant moving truck did quite a bit of damage Sunday afternoon when it rolled away from its parking space in Oak Park. 

Around 1:30 p.m., the truck was making a delivery on Gayle St. near Hughes St. when the parking brake somehow released, according to San Diego Fire-Rescue spokesperson Lee Swanson.

The runaway truck hit three cars and smashed into a power pole, knocking it over and sending two power lines falling onto the street. Swanson said the transformer on the pole basically exploded on impact. 

Power was knocked out for the entire street. No one was hurt in the incident.

A hazmat team was called to clean up hydraulic fluid that was leaking down the street into an ocean drain.

The man who owns two of the damaged cars said he was taking a nap with his pregnant wife when he heard the commotion. 

According to the SDG&E power outage map, about 400 customers were left without power in the area. Many of those customers had power restored by 7 a.m. Monday.