MADERA, Calif. — Authorities say a 17-month old boy has died after being mauled by a pit bull.

Merced County authorities say the attack occurred Friday, and the boy died after being airlifted to a hospital.

Deputy Tom MacKenzie says deputies responding to a 911 hang-up found blood on a doorstep. A few miles away, another deputy pulled over the driver of a car who was driving erratically.

Authorities say the woman behind the wheel was the same person who called 911, and she was trying to drive the child to a hospital.

She told deputies she was baby-sitting the toddler when the dog attacked.

The names of the child and the baby sitter were not released.