A mother and her baby were pulled from their overturned vehicle after it sped through Kernan Boulevard and landed in a ravine. After witnessing the vehicle lose control, two UNF students took part in the rescue efforts that saved their lives.
The victim, Rebecca Feazal, and her 21-month-old son were driving when Feazal, a diabetic, blacked out and lost control of the vehicle near the intersection of Kernan Boulevard and Alumni Drive Feb. 1.
Students Alesia Hallidy and Danielle (who requested her last name be withheld) were leaving the Osprey Fountains residence hall when a vehicle swerving into on-coming traffic caught their attention.
“I’ve never seen an accident,” Hallidy said. “I didn’t know what to do at first.”
Both students contacted 911 while following the vehicle to a nearby ditch where it lay overturned.
Halliday and Danielle caught the attention of passers-by who noticed the students frantically running into the woods to assist those in the vehicle. Among the eight citizens that joined Halliday and Danielle was a nurse practitioner, Halliday said.
The baby, still in his car seat, remained trapped in the vehicle with his unconscious mother. The students knew they needed to act fast as water began to leak through the windows and into the vehicle. The students grabbed the baby while the vehicle lay on its roof. Danielle took the baby in her arms and held him until an ambulance arrived.
The group of about 10 people banded together, flipped the car upright and pulled out Feazal, who remained unconsciousness, Danielle said.
“The first thing I saw was everybody around my car,” Feazal said. “I am thankful that there are still people willing to help you.”
Feazal and her are expected to make a full recovery.
Looking back on all that transpired, Halliday and Danielle feel they made the right choice in helping Feazal and her son.
“It was a horrific thing to witness, but I just knew that I needed to help,” Danielle said. “As long as you’re not putting yourself in danger, you have an obligation to help out those who need it.”
