Homeless Man Canoes Across Bayou to Save Mother and Baby After Minivan Crashes Off Texas Bridge
A 22-year-old mother drove her minivan with her 8-month-old in the back seat when tragedy struck. The vehicle plunged into Dickinson Bayou. Help arrived from the most unexpected place.
The driver later told authorities she was traveling on FM 517 and crossing a bridge over Dickinson Bayou. Around 9:40 p.m. Thursday, she struck a curb. The minivan veered across several lanes of traffic and tumbled into the water.
In the right place at the right time
A homeless man who stays in a wooded area along the shoreline saw the crash unfold. He knew he could not ignore it. He climbed into his canoe and paddled toward the sinking minivan.
At the vehicle, he found the mother and her 8-month-old trapped and in distress. He pulled both into his canoe and paddled them safely back to shore.
When the Dickinson Volunteer Fire Department arrived, the man handed over his canoe. Firefighters used it to row a tow truck driver out to the submerged van so it could be secured and pulled from the water.
Authorities transported the mother and child to the University of Texas Medical Branch. The Dickinson Police Department said both were evaluated, cleared, and released. Neither suffered serious injuries, and both are expected to make a full recovery.
