Hero officers, bystanders save mom, baby pinned under car: It’s honestly a miracle
Heroic police officers and bystanders were credited with saving lives when an out-of-control car slammed into a mother carrying her child
[July 26, 2021: The Brighter Side of News]
Heroic police officers Rocco Fusco and Paul Samoyedny were credited with saving the lives of a baby and mother pinned underneath a car. (CREDIT: ABC News)
Heroic police officers and bystanders were credited with saving lives when an out-of-control car slammed into a mother carrying her child as they crossed the street.
"It's honestly a miracle that both of them survived -- very strong mom and an even stronger little infant," said Officer Rocco Fusco, one of the responding officers.
Video shows the 36-year-old woman and her 8-month-old child crossing the street Friday in Yonkers, New York, when a car speeds around the corner, loses control, hits multiple parked cars and slams into them. The car then barrels into a barbershop, dragging the mother and baby along.
Fusco and fellow Yonkers Police Department Officer Paul Samoyedy were grabbing breakfast at a bagel shop next door during the crash and immediately jumped into action.
Body camera footage shows Fusco and bystanders as they lifted the car off of the pinned woman and child.
"Somebody's gotta pull the baby," a person is heard yelling in the video.
Samoyedy, a 15-year veteran of the force, is then seen pulling the 8-month-old from underneath the vehicle.
"I got, I got it, I got the baby," he is heard saying in the video.
The mother suffered a compound fracture to one of her legs, and the baby has a fractured skull. Both are expected to recover.
Police said the driver was 43-year-old David Poncurack, who is unlicensed. He was arrested at the scene and charged with driving while intoxicated.
"The driver did get out and immediately went over to see if the woman was OK," Samoyedy said.
For more good news stories check out our Good News section at The Brighter Side of News.
Like these kind of feel good stories? Get the Brighter Side of News' newsletter.
Tags: #Good_News, #Police, #Heroism, #The_Brighter_Side_of_News
Joseph Shavit
Head Science News Writer | Communicating Innovation & Discovery
Based in Los Angeles, Joseph Shavit is an accomplished science journalist, head science news writer and co-founder at The Brighter Side of News, where he translates cutting-edge discoveries into compelling stories for a broad audience. With a strong background spanning science, business, product management, media leadership, and entrepreneurship, Joseph brings a unique perspective to science communication. His expertise allows him to uncover the intersection of technological advancements and market potential, shedding light on how groundbreaking research evolves into transformative products and industries.
