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Video: Mo. officers, firefighters pull mother, infant from crashed vehicle in frigid water

The footage shows a Liberty police officer and a firefighter wading into the water to reach the vehicle, turned on its side in an icy creek

LIBERTY, Mo. — Dramatic body camera footage captured the heroic efforts of first responders who saved a mother and her infant after their SUV crashed into an icy creek, KCTV reported.

Emergency crews were dispatched to the scene of a single-vehicle collision on Jan. 15 where they found the SUV tipped on its side in rising creek water, according to the report. The Liberty Police Department stated that two passengers were trapped inside as the freezing water levels continued to rise.

The footage shows a Liberty police officer and a firefighter wading into the frigid creek to reach the vehicle. Working in icy conditions, the team used tools to break through the windshield, cutting a hole to free the occupants. They first pulled the mother to safety, drying and warming her before continuing the rescue.

The video also captured the moment an officer removed his vest and assisted in pulling the infant from the back of the SUV. The child was rushed to awaiting first responders and reunited with the mother. Both were transported to a nearby hospital for evaluation and treatment.

The officer who spent an extended period in the icy water was also taken to the hospital for observation, according to the report.

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Joanna Putman is an Associate Editor and newswriter at Police1, where she has been covering law enforcement topics since August 2023. Based in Orlando, Florida, she holds a journalism degree from the University of Florida and spent two years working in nonprofit local newsrooms, gaining experience in community-focused reporting. Married to a law enforcement officer, she works hard to highlight the challenges and triumphs of those who serve and protect. Have a news tip? Email her at news@lexipol.com