An aspiring police officer and his family recently became heroes after rescuing an elderly woman from a submerged car in an irrigation canal in California. The incident occurred on a Monday afternoon in Live Oak when 6-year-old Cayleigh spotted a vehicle overturned while playing outside.
The driver, 75-year-old Robbie Carpenter, had crashed her car into the canal, leaving her trapped upside down with her head under about two feet of water following recent rainstorms. As soon as Cayleigh alerted her parents, Cyle Johnson and Ashley Martin, they wasted no time in responding to the emergency.
Cyle, 28, bravely jumped into the canal and managed to unlock the front door of the submerged vehicle, but Carpenter was unresponsive. An unknown passerby joined him in the effort, helping to cut the woman’s seatbelt and pull her from the car.
“We were there at the exact right time because it could have been 10 seconds, and her life could be gone,” Ashley recounted, noting that she called 911 to get help. Fortunately, Carpenter was taken to a local hospital and was only treated for minor injuries.
The California Highway Patrol commended Cyle, Ashley, and their daughter for their quick thinking and decisive actions. “Had it not been for the heroic actions of this family, this would have been a much different outcome,” they stated. The family’s bravery is a shining example of community spirit.
Remarkably, this was not the first time the family stepped in to help someone in need. Just a few weeks prior, they assisted another crash victim following a recent accident involving a wrong-way driver.
In recognition of their bravery, the family received acknowledgment from Rep. Doug LaMalfa’s office. Meanwhile, Cyle is pursuing his goal of becoming a law enforcement officer, expressing his intention to join the California Highway Patrol. The department even noted their enthusiasm to have him on board, as he was already in the hiring process.
