CHARLES CITY COUNTY, VA (WTVR) – A fatal car wreck ends in a patch of swampy woods, and a heroic stranger jumps into action to save any lives that might have remained.
A deputy tried to stop the car for reckless driving, on Saturday evening, but the car continued to speed away before losing control and crashing, police said.
Moments later a man and his family passing by would stop to help.
Barbour was on the road Saturday evening with his family, to tour Christmas lights.
Instead he saw headlights speed across his lane of traffic and crash in to the woods.
He said he got out and learned a 17-year-old passenger had died, and so he searched the nearby frozen swamp for any others who may have been thrown from the car.
“I was yelling out ‘Hey is anybody out there?’ and I heard somebody say ‘I’m right over here.’”
Using a light from his cell phone he followed the voice and found the 21-year-old driver of the car, who police identified as Nick Glover.
“He was submerged up to his chest in water,” Barbour said.
After testing Glover’s mobility, Barbour said he took him from the water and lifted him over his shoulder. He had to carry him about fifty yards back to the road.
Barbour made sure Glover was lying flat, and put a blanket over him, keeping Glover alert and warm until the ambulance arrived.
Barbour, an army veteran, said he’s seen injury and casualty before, but said he wasn’t prepared for how he’d feel after helping a stranger. He also said anyone would have done it.
“I wish it would have never happened…and I feel for them I really do,” he said.
Police have identified the deceased 17-year-old passenger as Tyler Cassell.
Glover remains at VCU Medical Center with serious life threatening injuries. Police said both men were from Virginia Beach.
