According to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, the woman driving was likely having a medical episode when the SUV went into the water.
CHANNELVIEW, Texas — Investigators released new information Saturday about how a witness managed to save two children from a sinking SUV in east Harris County Friday. Sadly, a woman her one-year-old daughter didn’t survive.
It happened at around 4:45 p.m. on Friday. Investigators said the woman was driving an SUV near Market Street and River Haven in the Channelview area with her three kids when she possibly suffered a medical emergency. That apparently caused her to drive off the main road and onto a gravel road south of it. The vehicle stopped for about a minute, then accelerated into a grassy area and into the water.
According to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, the vehicle began to quickly sink as it was taken by a current under a bridge.
A witness saw what was happening and jumped in the water. That witness managed to get to the vehicle and break the back window of the SUV. While doing that, he was able to save two kids who investigators said are a boy and girl, ages five and seven. One was in the front seat and one in the back. They’re both in good condition.
“The witness dove in the water and rescued those children,” said Major Cedric Collier with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. “We’re very grateful for his bravery to save those children.”
The woman driving was found unresponsive and died at the scene. When the SUV was pulled from the water, the one-year-old girl was found in a car seat.
The case remains under investigation.
Below is the news conference Major Collier held Friday evening.