Police officer saves man who drove car into river

REHOBOTH, Mass. (WHDH) -- It was a race to the rescue in Rehoboth when a car crashed into a frigid river. Sunday, the police officer who dove into the water and saved the driver inside that car spoke out.

“The water was cold but I did what I had to do and got right in there,” said Officer Bree Krasnianski of the Rehoboth Police.

Police said the driver somehow lost control and plunged into the river and a man who was passing by helped the officer save the driver.

“The gentleman was trying to climb through the windshield, he had blood coming from his face and his hands, he seemed to be not all with it. It appears he may have had a head injury,” said Officer Krasnianski.

The Good Samaritan thought the worst when he came upon the scene.

“I thought he was going to drown, he was holding onto the frame of the window to keep his head above water,” said the Good Samaritan.

So, Officer Krasnianski and the Good Samaritan jumped into the water.

“So I took off my gun belt and my vest, got down to my long Johns , took off my shoes and thankfully my mother taught me how to swim so I waded out to the vehicle,” said Officer Krasnianski.

The fire department arrived and tossed her a rope.

“I wrapped the rope around him, got him down the front of the vehicle, the gentleman from Portsmouth was able to help me get him out of the water, and we got him to dry land and fire was able to take care of him from there,” said Officer Krasnianski.

Back at work, Officer Krasnianski said it was all in a day’s work and she brushed off any talk of her being a hero.

“I’m just doing my job, I’d like to think that I have two daughters and a husband in the military so I’d hope that I’m a hero to them,” said Officer Krasnianski.

Police are still investigating what caused the crash.

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