Woman rescued after car goes into pond

WTHR-TV

updated 6:30 p.m. ET Nov. 2, 2009

Carmel - A woman was injured when her car went into a retention pond near Carmel Monday morning. Her car was partially submerged.

Two passing motorists saw the car go into the water at US 421 and Weston Pointe Drive. Toni Sheehy of Carmel saw the accident and flagged down another driver, Fred Robbins, for help.

"I jumped out of the car. I think the car was in park within a second, I was out of it, jumping in the water," Robbins said. "The first time I went in, I dove down to try and open the door, but reality came in that I wouldn't be able to open it up."

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He went into the pond and tried to break the window, but failed. He went back in a second time with a rock and managed to break the window open.

"Couldn't see anything. By the time I got the rock and got back in, it was about a foot underwater," Robbins said.

The female driver, later identified as 42-year-old Lorraine Holland of Carmel, was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries. As of 4:00 pm Monday, she was in stable condition. It isn't clear why her vehicle went into the water. Firefighters and police are still investigating.

"It's great that they were able to pay attention and get down in there right away. It's cold out here; the water's cold so he was taking a big chance on his part but we're very glad that they did, and that somebody called 911 right away because if an emergency happens, we don't know about it unless somebody lets us know," said Carmel Fire Marshal Bruce Knott.

Robbins was a lifeguard for five years and says the experience served him well during the rescue, but he doesn't consider himself a hero.

"Somebody needed help and God said, 'You got to do it'," he said. "I'm glad she gets to see another day."