Bridgeport police say Alex Torres, 18, broke the window of an SUV to rescue a 3-year-old girl stuck inside.

This happened outside of the Bass Pro Shop parking lot on Wednesday afternoon.

Torres, a motivational speaker who lives in Naugatuck, said he and a group of friends had been bowling prior to the incident.

"The situation just changed and got so serious from like everybody partying and having fun into a really bad scenario where this kid could die," Torres said. "I saw the kid look at me in my eyes and I just broke the window."

Torres had to get 16 stiches on his arm.

Police praised his efforts to help the save the child from the hot car.

The child was taken to Bridgeport Hospital and is doing well.

Police say the operator of that vehicle, Rubeidi Montero-Matos, of Bridgeport, is facing several charges including reckless endangerment and risk of injury to a minor.