SECONDS TO SPARE: BSO DEPUTIES PULL ELDERLY WOMAN FROM SINKING CAR


PIO Number 26-6-5 Date June 5, 2026
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Body-worn camera video captured the dramatic moment two Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies raced against time, dove into a canal and pulled an elderly woman from her sinking vehicle just seconds before it disappeared beneath the water.

Around 10:30 a.m. on Friday, May 1, Broward County Regional Communications received a report of a vehicle that drove into a body of water adjacent to a shopping plaza located in the 2600 block of South Palm Aire Drive in Pompano Beach. BSO deputies, Pompano Beach Fire Rescue and an off-duty Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue captain responded to the scene.

BSO Det. Robert Rutkowski, BSO Dep. Zachary Kerin and Fort Lauderdale Fire Captain Keith Costa were first on scene and quickly realized time was running out. As the vehicle began taking on water and sinking, they entered the canal and rushed to reach the trapped driver.

Body-worn camera footage captures the moments as Dep. Kerin shatters the passenger side window, and the two deputies pull her from the vehicle. Deputies on shore helped pull them all back to land. Seconds after taking her to shore, the vehicle disappeared beneath the water.

“The body worn camera shows an incredible rescue,” Sheriff Dr. Gregory Tony said. “It shows the difference between how tragedy and survival was measured in just seconds. The driver is alive today because of their quick actions.”

THIS REPORT BY

Miranda Grossman/PIO