Bystanders save occupant of submerged vehicle

ST. CLAIR SHORES — Fifteen-year-old John Agnello didn’t have a second thought when it came to saving a person who drove into Lake St. Clair on July 23.

According to a press release from the St. Clair Shores Police Department, both the police and the St. Clair Shores Fire Department were dispatched to Lake Front Park for the crash.

John was fishing with his mother, Beth Agnello, when he saw the vehicle go into the water.

“I was down the street right by (the) Grosse Pointe Woods park,” John said. “And then to my right a car goes flying into the water. They weren’t going slow, they were going decently fast, so they’re about 15 yards out in the water.”

He said he and another person, who was walking a dog, instantly ran into the water. The other bystander who jumped in the water to assist had not been identified at press time on July 26.

John said when they got there, the occupant was calm, something he thinks is linked to trauma from the crash.

“She was just not saying words to us. We were trying to convince her to get out,” John said. “She’s like ‘Oh, I can’t swim.’ I don’t know what she was thinking.”

John and the other person managed to get the occupant out through the passenger window because they couldn’t open the vehicle door because it was almost fully submerged.

“After we got her to shore, she’s like, ‘There’s a 3-year-old kid back there,’ and me and the guy instantly run to the car,” John said.

John said he grabbed a rock and broke the back windshield. When he felt around the back seat of the car, he couldn’t feel anything or anyone.

“It’s all murky, the water,” John said. “I slide over the top of the car because it’s practically filled, it’s underwater now. And I look in the shotgun (seat and) there’s no one there.”

John went on to say he checked a couple times for any other occupants in the car. He sustained a couple injuries from the rescue.

He said that it was an instant decision for him and for the other person to go and help.

“Me and this guy went out there, we both thought the same thing, we both went into the water together,” John said. “I told my mom to call 911 when I got into the water instantly.”

According to the press release, the occupant was the only person in the vehicle at the time and they were later taken to the hospital for evaluation.

John said he would do it again and he hopes the occupant is doing well.

Beth said she wasn’t concerned when he went into the water, stating that he was a good swimmer, and the car was around 140 feet away. Her concern came when the occupant claimed there were other occupants in the vehicle.

“He had to go against the pressure of the car underwater and broke the glass to get the search going until police got there,” Beth said. “I stayed calm after I heard police and fire that inspected him from serious injuries. He has some injuries, but he should be able to heal quickly from the gashes and the torn-up skin.”

Beth said she wanted to be there for her son.

“He looked back and said he couldn’t see me because I had to go from the canal into (the) Grosse Pointe Woods park at the marina where the accident occurred,” Beth said. “For about eight minutes, I was in the car trying to get through the front gate.”

Beth went on to say at that moment she had some worries for her son. Beth was the one to call 911 and tried to stay on the line.

“John did mention he saw that before me, so I was proud of his decision to call 911 and glory to God for how brave he was to take action,” Beth said.

She went on to say she is proud of all of her children.

“But I am really humbled by all the community outreach and support they gave him,” Beth said. “Calling him a hero and as a mom and him being 15 years old, I’m hoping that this might be a gift or experience that could be used for a career.”

John thanked the community for their nice comments.

“I really appreciate everyone, the opportunities to talk to people like this,” he said.

The St. Clair Shores Police Department was investigating the incident.