Crash driver rescued after going overboard

Sékou Hendrickson

Created: Dec 24, 2020 08:12 AM (Updated: Dec 24, 2020 08:12 AM)

A woman driver whose car veered off the road and landed upside down in the ocean last night is being treated for minor injuries, police said yesterday.

A police spokesman said that the 28-year-old driver sustained minor injuries to her leg as well as internal injuries after she broke through the wooden barriers opposite the West End Sailboat Club in Sandys and landed in the ocean around 10pm.

The car that crashed into the ocean on Tuesday night across from the West End Sailboat Club in Sandys (Photograph supplied)

Soldiers from the Royal Bermuda Regiment Coast Guard were alerted to the crash by the noise while they were on duty at the nearby Watford House.

They called police to the scene when they found debris in the road and the car upside down in the water.

Officers entered the water and pulled the driver out of her car with the help of personnel from the Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service.

She was then taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital to be treated for her injuries.

The Coast Guard found no other occupants after they deployed a vessel to sweep the area.

Corporal CJ Richardson, who found a woman and her car upside down in the ocean on Tuesday night (Photograph supplied)

Corporal CJ Richardson, who found the car alongside fellow soldier Private Keeshun Best, said: “We were happy to assist the police – we went to get the boat because we weren’t sure what more needed to be done or how many people were in the car.

“We were prepared to jump overboard and do what had to be done, but there was only one person in the car and the police had already got her out.”

Lieutenant Jeffrey Patterson, the RBR Marine Unit Commander, said: “It’s another good example of the Royal Bermuda Regiment Coast Guard cooperating with other services to protect the public.

“Our soldiers were happy to assist.”

Private Keeshun Best, who found a woman and her car upside down in the ocean last night (Photograph supplied)

Stephen Corbishley, the Commissioner of Police, said: “I wish to publicly commend Western Division officers, Police constables Kyle Outerbridge, Kayla Smith, Tavon Trott and James Williams for the selflessness and courage they exhibited in this situation.

“Quick action by them, along with Acting Police Sergeant Melissa Butler who managed the rescue operation assisted by Comops Operator Police Constable Terry Tucker, may well have prevented any loss of life given the circumstances involved.”