A routine drive in Northwest Martin County, Florida, turned into a harrowing ordeal for a local couple when their car was struck by another vehicle late Friday night, sending them plunging upside down into a canal.
The dramatic incident unfolded on Route 714 around 10:30 p.m., in a remote stretch of the area.
A Frantic Call for Help
Trapped in the sinking vehicle, the woman managed to reach her phone and dial the Martin County Sheriff’s Office.
In harrowing audio released Tuesday, she can be heard pleading with a dispatcher, “Please! We need you.”
Explaining the situation through tears, she confirmed, “Yes! That’s what it feels like.
The car is sinking, sir.” When asked how high the water was, she replied, “Up to my stomach,” adding that the couple had no power in the car and could not open the doors or windows.
“We don’t know how much time we have! We’re scared!” she said, her voice shaking with fear.
The Challenges of Locating the Victims
After about ten minutes, the call abruptly dropped, leaving the dispatcher without exact location details.
Deputies arrived at the scene but initially struggled to locate the submerged car in the darkness.
Eventually, a distant car horn helped guide officers. Body camera footage later revealed deputies wading through waist-deep water and cutting through vines to reach the vehicle.
Heroic Rescue in Dangerous Conditions
Upon reaching the car, officers broke open the windows and pulled the couple to safety.
The Martin County Sheriff’s Office praised their team, saying, “In times of such crisis, we have warriors.
Between our incredible dispatchers and our determined deputies, this became a clear case of our warriors working quickly and risking their own lives to save others.”
Injuries and Ongoing Investigation
Both victims suffered injuries in the crash but are expected to make a full recovery.
Meanwhile, deputies continue to search for the other vehicle that fled the scene, hoping to identify and locate the driver responsible.