Ormond firefighters, VSO deputies salvage Christmas presents from crash on I-95

On Dec. 25, local firefighters and deputies salvaged a family's Christmas gifts from a submerged vehicle.

By Observer Staff
| 5:00 p.m. January 2, 2024

Ormond firefighters rescue presents from a submerged vehicle on Dec. 25. Photo courtesy of VSO's Facebook page

Ormond Beach Observer
News

Ormond Beach firefighters and Volusia County Sheriff's Office deputies helped save Christmas for one family.

On Dec. 25, the firefighters and deputies salvaged Christmas gifts from a submerged vehicle after it crashed on southbound I-95. The car was occupied by a woman and her three children, the oldest being about 5 years old, when the woman went off the highway, struck a pole and ended up in ditch with about 3 feet of water around 11:45 a.m. that day, according to VSO. All of the car's occupants sustained only minor injuries and were helped out of the car by bystanders prior to first responders' arrival.

Ormond firefighters with the Quint 93 crew used a ladder to recover most of the Christmas presents still in the vehicle.

"A human chain was formed and the firefighters passed the gifts to deputies, who moved them to dry land," VSO stated on its Facebook page. "Because of these efforts, deputies were able to transport the gifts to the VSO office, where they were sorted, dried, supplemented with a few extra donated gifts, and then brought to the hospital for the children."