Two lives were saved during the past 24 hours by the quick actions of Houston-area residents.
A 19-year old woman drove her vehicle into deep water at the Seabrook Shipyard and Marina on Friday night, according to Seabrook police.
Assistant Fire Chief Andy Castiglione was among the first to arrive after a distress call. He then put on a life jacket and grabbed some ropes to hoist down to the woman, pulling her from the vehicle just as the last of the air bubbled out of the vehicle as it sank.
The woman did survive, though news of her condition has not been released.
“It was an incredible rescue and truly saved her life,” as Seabrook Volunteer Fire Department Chief Nathan Douglas put it, “the vehicle was submerged and barely sticking out of the water.”
Then about 9 am Saturday on Toll Road 99 the Grand Parkway, a driver lost control of a vehicle and slammed into a guardrail going westbound near Kuykendahl in north Harris County, resulting in the vehicle catching fire.
A bystander described as a Good Samaritan rushed in to pull the driver from the front seat. He was rushed to a hospital and is expected to survive.
The bystander was also taken to a hospital with minor burns on his hands.