DUNEDIN – A Largo woman who crashed into a retention pond about 4:43 p.m. Sept. 13, is safe, thanks to a Palm Harbor man who assisted her escape out her car’s window.
According to Pinellas County Sheriff’s deputies, Bailey Hartman, 20, was traveling south on Belcher Road when she was apparently cut off by an unidentified vehicle traveling northbound that made a U-turn in front of her. Deputies said Hartman took evasive action to avoid a collision; but lost control and crashed into a retention pond at the corner of Belcher and Solon Avenue.
Joseph Daniel Isabelle, 46, was driving by and witnessed the crash. Deputies said Isabelle immediately pulled over, removed his shirt, set aside his cell phone and jumped into the water. Isabelle assisted Hartman out of her car through her open window. Her window was open because her AC was not working. Isabelle then helped Hartman get to the embankment about 20 to 25 feet away. He remained with her until EMS arrived on scene.
Neither Hartman nor Isabelle was injured.
Hartman’s vehicle did become completely submerged. The Sheriff’s Office dive team responded to recover the vehicle.
The only description available on the unidentified vehicle that cut Hartman off is it may be a black, two-door, possibly a Chevy. The investigation continues.
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