A nearby homeowner helped police pull a driver from an overturned vehicle after it left the roadway and landed in a river in Bethel, Connecticut, officials said.
The crash happened Friday, according to the Stony Hill Volunteer Fire Company. First responders were called after a vehicle went off the road and overturned in the water, WFSB reported.
Before EMS arrived, the homeowner and responding police officers were able to pull the driver from the vehicle. Firefighters and EMS crews then helped remove the patient from the water.
For residents whose homes sit near roads, creeks, ponds, canals, or riverbanks, a crash outside the property can become dangerous before crews arrive. Calling 911, giving the exact location, and keeping people away from unstable vehicles and moving water can help responders reach the scene without creating another emergency.
The Driver Was Taken to a Hospital
WFSB reported that the driver was transported to a nearby hospital after the rescue.
No additional details were released about the driver, the cause of the crash, or how the vehicle left the road. Officials did not report whether anyone else was inside the vehicle.
A Crane Was Used to Recover the Vehicle
After the driver was removed, crews still had to get the overturned vehicle out of the river. Officials said a heavy-duty crane was later used for the recovery.
Submerged or overturned vehicles can shift, leak debris, or become difficult to stabilize near a riverbank. Once a person is out of immediate danger, the vehicle recovery should be left to trained crews with the equipment to control the scene.
The Homeowner Helped Before EMS Arrived
The homeowner’s role came before EMS reached the scene, when police and the nearby resident were able to get the driver out of the vehicle.
Residents who witness a similar crash should call 911 immediately, provide the nearest address or landmark, keep bystanders away from the water, and assist only if it can be done without entering an unstable area or putting another person at risk.