Honk News (Liberty, MO) – Authorities in Missouri report that a woman and her baby were saved from a frozen creek following a rollover accident involving their vehicle.
On Tuesday, Jan. 14, officers and firefighters in Liberty attended to a single-car accident, discovering an SUV overturned on its driver’s side in a frozen creek, as reported by the Liberty Police Department (LPD).
According to police, the vehicle was found on its side, with the occupants unable to exit. An officer fell into the water after the ice collapsed beneath him as he and the assistant fire chief were nearing the vehicle.
Even while standing in “icy water” up to his waist, the officer managed to reach the vehicle and “employed a tool to slice through the windshield and access the driver.”
The officer assisted in rescuing the woman “through the windshield,” as stated by the LPD. Next, the baby was saved.
Firefighters took action to rescue the baby by removing the remaining parts of the SUV’s windshield. A police officer managed to maneuver to the rear seat, discovering that the 6-month-old infant remained safely fastened in a car seat.
“Fortunately, the car seat was on the passenger side of the vehicle and not exposed to the water,” police said.
Authorities reported that the infant was “safely extracted” from the car seat, and the officer who rescued her “maneuvered back through the vehicle” with the baby in tow.
According to the LPD, the infant and the driver were both transported to the hospital for assessment and care.
According to officials, the officer who ended up in the creek “was also taken to the hospital because of extended exposure to the icy water.”
All three individuals were taken to the same hospital, where the officer was able to meet the baby and converse with the family of the couple he assisted in saving.
Officials have not disclosed the relationship between the woman and the baby.
“We are proud to share this story as just one spotlight on the dedication of our officers and the LFD show to our community every day,” police said.