Good Samaritans Rescue 6 People, Including 5-Year-Old, When Overturned Vehicle Slides Into Pond Near Christiana Mall
By Todd Quinones
NEWARK, Del. (CBS) -- Delaware State Police are investigating a single vehicle crash that happened Wednesday afternoon in Newark.
"When I jump in this water it's going to be really cold."
That was Graf Eggers' only thought as he jumped into the freezing waters of a retention pond.
Six people including a 5-year-old boy desperately needed help.
Eggers and two other Good Samaritans wasted little time.
"I heard the child screaming in the backseat. The two gentlemen that were with me made sure to get everyone out of the back of the vehicle," said Eggers.
The 24-year-old from Media, Delaware County went to help the unconscious driver who still had his seat belt on.
"There's the driver, completely upside down, head totally in water, completely unconscious," he said.
Eggers took a moment to collect himself.
"Up to my chin in water, went under, popped the seat belt so the man fell, and this is how I knew that he was completely out was because when he fell there was no movement. At that moment I just grabbed him by the back of his pants where the belt loops are and I just pulled, and I yanked him out of the vehicle," he said.
The single vehicle accident happened near the Christiana Mall Wednesday afternoon.
Police say the driver accelerated to make a light on Mall Road, lost control, and hit a curb which flipped the SUV over and it slid into the retention pond into about two feet of water.
After the rescue, Eggers talked to one of the passengers.
"Did we get everyone out of the vehicle. And he looked at me, and he counted on his finger and looked around and said, 'Yes.' So with that I just gave him a hug," Eggers said.
Eggers' Naval training kicked in during the rescue.
This Eagles hat he was wearing, which belonged to his late cousin Jay Seipp, helped too, he says.
"He died in a car accident himself so I knew he was there the whole entire time," he said.
The driver regained consciousness after being pulled out of the water. He and the other four adult passengers are listed in serious condition.
The 5-year-old boy is critical with injuries to his head.
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