Bravery Prevails in Rescue from Canal in Pocatello
POCATELLO — A remarkable act of heroism unfolded Tuesday afternoon when three strangers joined forces to rescue a woman trapped in her partially submerged car in a canal. The incident occurred shortly before 11:24 a.m. along Hawthorne Road, following a collision initiated by a black truck that cut off Cindy Parker, sending her vehicle careening into the canal.
Witness Cassia Myers, who initially presumed the car was empty, noticed it rotating in the water while she called emergency services. Noticing that Parker appeared to be in shock with her eyes open but unresponsive, Myers dashed to the bank in panic. At that crucial moment, 16-year-old Mason Bates leaped into the fast-moving waters, quickly joined by another unidentified man.
Amidst rising fears for Bates’ safety, Myers urged him to search for another way to assist Parker. Just then, Nate Lee arrived and promptly provided a wrench. Fighting against the odds, Bates broke a passenger window, only to find the door handle was broken. Lee, entering the water, smashed the driver-side window and, despite Parker’s shock, instructed her to brace for rescue. He cut her seatbelt and pulled her from the vehicle, suffering minor injuries in the process.
Together, they formed a chain to escort Parker safely to the bank. Emergency services arrived shortly thereafter, offering aid, but fortunately, Parker did not require hospitalization. Her niece has since launched a GoFundMe campaign to assist her with expenses following the total loss of her vehicle.
The four rescuers, united by a collective resolve and unexpected bravery, expressed their gratitude for the community’s spirit. Bates reflected, “It just shows the reflection of love we should have for one another.”
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