Dashcam catches rescue of girl trapped in car

WHITLEY COUNTY, Ind. (WANE) - A Warsaw family is counting their blessings after a near tragic accident at a pond over the weekend. Their car rolled into the water and a seven-year-old was trapped when a door pinned her down. When police arrived, the dashcam from the squad car caught the audio of the rescue.

The seven-year-old’s mother, Michelle Beatty's, best guess is that her friend's dog jumped into the car and may have taken it out of park, but she said she will probably never know.  All she does know is when she turned around, her 16-year-old daughter was on the driveway and her car was gone.

It was parked near 355 West 150 North, north of Columbia City in Whitley County Saturday, in her friend's driveway, but somehow when she was in the house, the car rolled across the street and into the water.

While the car didn't roll completely in the water, police officers said the little girl got tangled in her seat belt when she tried to get out and then was pinned underneath the car door.

Her mother dove in and managed to hold her daughter's head above the water until police got there and could dig her out.

Even though the little girl wasn't hurt, Michelle Beatty said she's still haunted by the scene. “I don't know how it happened, but I don't feel like I could have done anything different, said Beatty.

"It very easily could have gone the other way," said Deputy Cory Patrick. He was one of the officers who responded and said everyone involved did exactly as they should have to get her out safely.

Michelle said it felt like an eternity until police arrived and were able to save her daughter. But in fact, the first deputy got there in about 30 seconds and the little girl was out of the water within three minutes.