Florida Deputies Save Woman From Submerged SUV

Nov. 13, 2017
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Deputies Trent Migues and Benjamin Thompson helped rescue 82-year-old Leona Evans after she crashed her SUV into a Plant City pond Saturday evening.

An elderly woman was rescued by two Hillsborough County Sheriff's deputies from a submerged vehicle Saturday evening.

Deputies Trent Migues and Benjamin Thompson were in the area when 82-year-old Leona Evans crashed her SUV into a Plant City pond, according to WFTS-TV.

"We were just in the right spot at the right time," Migues told reporters during a news conference.

Evans was driving down Paul Buchman Highway, when her vehicle struck a pole, went up into the air and crashed through a fence before landing in the water.

"When the adrenaline’s going and you've got a mission you don’t have time to think about it," Thompson, who swam out to the woman, said. "She was just holding the steering wheel, white knuckled, staring straight ahead, and very pre-occupied, very upset with the situation, I couldn’t get her attention, tried to open the door and the door wouldn’t open, the doors were locked."

After multiple tries, he broke through the window and quickly tried to remove her as the water began to flod the car.

"Watching the water rise up to the lady's chin I remember hearing her scream, and one of the most spookiest things she was screaming and all of a sudden the roof kind of went under water and the screaming stopped my partner disappeared in the car," Migues said.

Thompson went underwater for about ten seconds and grabbed hold of Evans.

With the assistance of Good Samaritans, Migues pulled his partner to safety as he held Evans.

Evans was transported to the hospital in serious condition.

The crash is currently under investigation.

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