Ambulance rushed to a crash site after a 26-year-old mom drove into a river with her toddler — her actions left rescuers in disbelief
It isn’t easy for anyone to stay calm when they are the victim of a road accident. A woman and her 2-year-old toddler faced a similar situation on Monday afternoon, April 6, 2026, after their car crashed into a river in Vermont, as reported by PEOPLE on Wednesday, April 8, 2026. Although an ambulance arrived within minutes, rescuers were stunned when they learned about the mother’s actions after the crash.
The 26-year-old woman and her son were trapped in their car after it plunged into the Ottaquechee River. The two were initially seen clinging to the floating vehicle. However, by the time an ambulance arrived, they had reached the riverbank safely. According to the Hartford Fire Department, the first responders to the accident, the mother immediately unbuckled her son's seatbelt in the back seat. The force of the collision deployed the front airbag, but the mother and toddler were able to safely exit the car through the window, cutting through the airbag. The two managed to swim safely to shore.
The pair had not sustained serious injuries, but were still taken by ambulance to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center for evaluation, the firefighters explained. However, the situation could have been far more serious if not for the mother’s composure and presence of mind. According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), vehicle crashes into water are relatively rare compared to road accidents, but they are among the most dangerous accidents and have the highest mortality rate, with most deaths caused by drowning, rather than trauma.
In North America alone, vehicle crashes into water cause approximately 400 deaths each year and may account for up to 11% of all drowning deaths. The article recommends a step-by-step procedure, called Stay S-U-R-E, to follow if trapped in a sinking vehicle. It starts with staying calm, then unbuckling your seat belt, rolling down your window, and exiting the vehicle. The mother appeared to follow this method, which likely contributed to her safe escape. The Hartford Fire Department also said in a statement released via Facebook that the area where the accident occurred, Quechee Main Street, was closed to the public for a time and later reopened.
“The car was removed from the river by Sabil and Sons Inc. The Fire Department stayed on scene and assisted in the removal,” the statement read. Although the cause of the accident is still unknown and under investigation, the 26-year-old mother's actions likely helped save both her life and her son's, serving as a reminder of how important it is to stay calm in such situations.