Off-duty deputy, passerby save woman from submerged car


An off-duty deputy and good Samaritan jumped into 50-degree water and saved a woman from a submerged car Saturday night.

The woman drove her car into a retention pond on Durbin Creek Boulevard for unknown reasons around 10 p.m.

A deputy who was on his way home from dinner with his family drove by and saw the glow of the woman's tail lights from the water, according to the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office.

He jumped into the pond and began to try to free her. Another person saw the car and also jumped in to help.

They two were able to free the woman, who was unable to free herself. The woman was still able to breathe when the deputy found her because of an air pocket in the car.

She was taken to Memorial Emergency Center-Julington Creek with minor injuries.

Officials are investigating the incident and said alcohol could've been a factor.