A Virginia woman is safe thanks to the swift thinking of several bystanders who plunged into frigid waters after her SUV drove into a creek on Friday, January 16, 2026. The dramatic rescue unfolded in Virginia Beach, highlighting the courage of ordinary people facing extraordinary circumstances.
Dramatic Rescue in Virginia Beach
Passersby braved freezing temperatures to save a driver trapped in a sinking vehicle.
- The incident occurred at 3300 Shore Drive in Virginia Beach at 1:17 p.m.
- The driver initially told rescuers “I don’t want to be here, let me die.”
- jeremy Way, a former Navy lifeguard, was among those who entered the water.
- The driver and two rescuers were transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The manager of nearby Bubba’s seafood restaurant was alerted by a sound and, upon looking out a window, saw a car submerged in the water.
Jeremy Way,a 17-year veteran of the US Navy as a lifeguard,was having lunch with a friend when he heard the crash. “I had already taken my phone, my wallet and my knife out of my pocket, and once I had confirmation that there was a person in the car I dove straight in,” Way said. Three others also entered the frigid water to assist in the rescue.
“Let Me Die”
As the group reached the vehicle, Way reported that the woman inside initially expressed a desire to end her life, stating, “I don’t want to be here, let me die.” Despite this,she agreed to be rescued,but the car’s electronic systems had failed,preventing her from unlocking the doors or rolling down the windows.
DARING RESCUE: Good Samaritans in Virginia Beach worked together to save a woman trapped inside a sinking SUV submerged in frigid water after she was unable to unlock her doors and escape.
One man smashed the rear window, crawled inside, and pulled her to safety.
The driver and… pic.twitter.com/4U5dKGjxxr
– Fox News (@FoxNews) January 21, 2026
A video circulating on social media shows one of the rescuers breaking the rear window of the SUV to free the occupant.By the time the woman was brought to safety, the vehicle was fully submerged.
Police confirmed that the driver and two of the rescuers were transported to a local hospital for evaluation. Their injuries were not considered serious.Authorities pulled the vehicle from the water shortly before 5 p.m. and have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the accident.
