The quick-thinking actions of witnesses helped save a man’s life after he crashed into a retention pond in east Orlando.
The single-vehicle accident took place as the man’s Mazda CX5 was exiting State Road 408 on Monday morning, at around 6:35 a.m., according to a report by the Florida Highway Patrol.
The driver, a 41-year-old Orlando man, was traveling east on the SR 408 exit ramp to Alafaya Trail when he failed to negotiate a left turn and traveled through the intersection.
The vehicle crossed all the north and southbound lanes of Alafaya Trail before striking a raised curb on the east shoulder and traveling into a retention pond.
The vehicle became submerged in the water and the driver had to be rescued by Orange County Fire Rescue crews.
The driver is in critical condition.
Emergency personnel believe the incident could have turned fatal had witnesses and emergency crews not intervened when they did.
“Quick-action by witnesses and Orange County Fire Rescue prevented this from being a recovery instead of a rescue,” reads a statement from the Florida Highway Patrol.