Patrick Dunne is speaking out for the first time since his son was hit by a car in a school-zone crosswalk in hopes others can avoid the same fate.

The four-year-old was with his caregiver on Oct. 17 when a driver, who police believe was speeding, struck the pair.

"It's just a call you don't want to get. It's basically the nightmare scenario for a parent," said Dunne.

Police have told the Calgary father that the caregiver likely saved the child by picking him up at the last second.

"She's definitely our hero, without a question," said Dunne.

The boy was thrown about a metre and landed under the car. Passersby are said to have lifted the front of the car to get him out.

The child was treated and released from hospital but the woman who saved him — and bore the brunt of the impact — wasn't as fortunate. She suffered a broken leg, broken jaw and, most seriously, a traumatic brain injury that is expected to keep her in hospital another month.

With her own family back in the Philippines, the Dunne family has become her surrogate family and they are livid such an accident happened at all.

"It's absolutely shocking that somebody could be travelling at whatever speed they were travelling at above the limit and then hit people in a clearly marked crosswalk," said Dunne.

Investigation still underway

The traffic section of the Calgary Police Service has taken over the investigation.

"The investigation is obviously continuing and once that's concluded it'll go to the Crown for approval to see what charges will be done due to the seriousness of injuries," said Insp. Ken Thrower.

Meanwhile, there have been calls for permanent speed cameras to be set up in school zones.

It's a proposal Dunne supports.

"Anything that can prevent another accident has got to be a good thing," said Dunne.

Calgary police say they are looking into the idea.

"We want to look at these situations and find out what else can we do, working with the city, the province and partners and the citizens, to make sure that your children and everyone's children are safe going to and from schools," said Thrower.

A number of people who don't support the idea of cameras have taken to social media, calling the proposal a "cash grab." Ward 12 Coun. Shane Keating, a former school principal, disagrees.

"If there's never a speeding ticket given off the photo radar, I'm happy," said Keating.

City council has sent a letter to the province asking for a number of traffic-related issues to be examined, including the idea of speed cameras in school zones.