Toddler Thrown From Truck Into Bay in Crash—Then Heroic Bystander Leaps In, Saves Her Life

Courtesy of Ocean City Fire Department

A toddler was thrown from a truck, off a bridge, and into the water of a bay in Maryland during a vehicle collision on May 2. Heroically, a good Samaritan leapt in and retrieved the baby girl with help from nearby boaters.

The five-car crash occurred just before 3 p.m. on a Route 90 bridge connecting Ocean City to the rest of Worcester County. The impact threw a 23-month-old, still in her car seat, from one of the vehicles into Assawoman Bay, according to a press release.

The truck was left dangling precariously over the guardrail.

Courtesy of Ocean City Fire Department

After witnessing the crash, the unnamed good Samaritan climbed over the rail and jumped into the bay to retrieve the toddler. A nearby family of boaters sailed toward the pair and helped them aboard.

The water was only 4 to 5 feet deep in that part of the bay.

One of the boaters, Tricia Michele Roberts-Oertel, captured footage of the rescue on her cellphone. One of her family members posted it to Facebook and said the family “went into rescue mode ... We got them on board within minutes of them landing in the bay.”

Ocean City Fire Department (OCFD) reported that one of their own, firefighter and photographer Rob Korb, arrived just moments after the crash occurred.

Courtesy of Ocean City Fire Department

According to Korb, the good Samaritan performed CPR on the toddler before medics arrived. “I’ve been on some crazy jobs over the years, but this one will be one to remember,” he said.

The child was transported to Johns Hopkins Children’s Hospital in Baltimore by air ambulance.

Seven others besides the toddler sustained injuries and were treated onsite by paramedics. All seven were transported to local hospitals for further medical attention but have since been released.

Courtesy of Ocean City Fire Department

The toddler remains stable at Johns Hopkins, according to Ocean City Police. Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash.

Meanwhile, the brave bystander remains the hero of the hour.

“This good Samaritan’s actions without a doubt, we can say, saved this child,” OCFD’s Ryan Whittington told Fox 5.

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