Local

‘Climb out the back!’: See police rescue Pizza Hut delivery driver trapped in sinking car

By Gene Saladna, WFTV.com
By Gene Saladna, WFTV.com

PORT ORANGE, Fla. — Friday night took a terrifying turn for one Volusia County motorist.

>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<

As storms soaked parts of Central Florida, her car traveled off the road and and into a Port Orange canal, swollen with rain water.

Read: Dozens of Florida lottery players strike gold from non-winning scratch-off tickets

Three members of Port Orange Police Department responded to the crash scene.

When they arrived, they quickly realized there was little time to spare to free the driver from her sinking car.

The team of Sgt. Mialki, Ofc. Calenda and Ofc. Brashier entered the water and quickly began yelling to the driver in the nearly submerged red car.

Read: Osceola County Investigative Bureau calls it quits after 25 years. Here’s why

Chest deep in water, they busted out windows in the vehicle and yelled repeatedly, “You need to climb out the back!”

WATCH: Full water rescue video below

Friday night after the heavy rains, a car ran off the road and into a canal, next to Cedar in the Wood. Sgt. Mialki, Ofc. Calenda and Ofc. Brashier responded to the crash and found, that the driver was trapped in the vehicle as it was sinking. The Officers entered the water, broke the window, and pulled the driver out of the sinking car. This is another great example of Port Orange Police Officer’s daily commitment to the safety of their community and their willingness to put themselves in harm’s way to protect a stranger.

Posted by Port Orange Police Department on Monday, November 8, 2021

Police body camera captured it all, including the woman crying out in hysteria as the heroes pulled her to safety.

“Here, here. I got her! Are you ok ma’am?,” can be heard on one of the rescuer’s video.

Read: Woman beaten so badly in prison that she’s now quadriplegic, but why hasn’t anyone been charged?

A department spokesperson proudly acknowledged the trio’s efforts, noting, “This is another great example of Port Orange Police Officer’s daily commitment to the safety of their community and their willingness to put themselves in harm’s way to protect a stranger.”

The woman was not seriously hurt.

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

Sample HTML block

Most Read