David J. Connelly rescued Brian D. and Mary M. Turner from drowning, Doswell, Virginia, December 22, 2016. Turner, 62, was driving on an interstate highway overpass with his wife, Mary, 60, when an accident occurred that caused their vehicle to roll over a concrete barrier and fall into the Little River below. Connelly, 30, crane inspector, was driving nearby and witnessed the accident. Connelly stopped his vehicle, ran down an embankment and, fully clothed, jumped into the river. He swam a short distance to the vehicle’s driver’s side, where, with difficulty, he pried the door open using his arm and hand. Extending his upper body inside the vehicle, Connelly unlatched Turner’s seat belt, grasped Turner around his arms and removed him from the vehicle. Turner alerted Connelly that Mary remained in the front, passenger seat. Connelly re-entered the vehicle and submerged to reach Mary’s seat belt and unlatch it. Connelly grasped Mary around her arms and removed her from the vehicle. Holding on to both Turner and Mary, Connelly, kicking his legs, maneuvered them to the bank. A bystander assisted Connelly in removing Turner and Mary from the water and up the embankment to safety. Turner was treated for minor injuries, and he recovered. Mary suffered serious injuries sustained in the accident. Connelly suffered cuts to his hand and arm, and he recovered.
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