‘We jumped straight in the water’: PFW students rescue man from car in pond

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA) - Two students from Purdue Fort Wayne (PFW) rescued an elderly man after he crashed his vehicle into a pond late Wednesday morning.

Fort Wayne Fire Department officials say the crash happened around 11:47 a.m. on Sawmill Woods Boulevard and St. Joe Center Road, at a pond adjacent to the Wyndmere neighborhood.

When crews arrived at the scene around 11:51 a.m., they found the man sitting on the shoreline, and his vehicle in the water.

Our crew on scene spoke with AJ Agnew and Landon Smith, members of the PFW Golf team, who were driving to the grocery store when they witnessed the accident.

They say the car crossed the intersection and bounced off the curb before heading into the pond. Without hesitation, “we jumped straight in the water,” Agnew said.

“We were able to get him to unlock the door. I was able to pull him out, and then me and Landon just ultimately got him up on land so we could get him a blanket. Some lady was kind enough to let us use a blanket so we could keep him warm and just try to get him as safe as possible,” Agnew added.

They described the man as an elderly gentleman who reported being dizzy and disoriented. FWFD says the man was taken to an area hospital for treatment, but did not give details on his condition.

The FWFD’s Water Rescue Team assisted in towing the vehicle out of the water. FWPD officers and TRAA were also on scene and gave the man an evaluation.

Officials with FWFD say it is possible that the accident was caused by the driver having a medical episode.