Good Samaritan Rescues Family from Overturned Canal

Casey Curtis pulled a mother and three children from a submerged vehicle after a crash in Indiantown, Florida.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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A routine drive turned into a life-or-death rescue when a vehicle veered off the road, flipped upside down into a canal, and trapped a mother and her three young children inside. A good Samaritan named Casey Curtis was the first on the scene, helping the children out of the vehicle while holding the mother's head above water until emergency responders arrived.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the importance of community members being willing to take immediate action to save lives in emergency situations, especially when first responders may not arrive quickly enough. Curtis' quick thinking and bravery likely prevented a tragic outcome.

The details

According to investigators, the mother was driving when she suffered a seizure and crashed. Curtis said he followed the tire tracks to the canal, where he found the overturned vehicle. He was able to get the three children out safely and then climbed into the car to lift the mother's head above the water, performing CPR until she started breathing again. The family was then transported to a local hospital for treatment.

  • The crash happened on Sunday afternoon in Indiantown, Florida.
  • As of Tuesday afternoon, the three children were reported to be okay, but the mother was still hospitalized.

The players

Casey Curtis

A good Samaritan who was the first on the scene and helped rescue the mother and children from the overturned vehicle.

John Budensiek

The Martin County Sheriff who stated that if Curtis had not checked his rearview mirror, the family may not have been found for a long time.

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What they’re saying

“I just got off of work, and I was going home, there was somebody behind me I noticed driving, and then all of a sudden I looked up, and they seemed to be accelerating and drove off the side of the road.”

— Casey Curtis (WPBF)

“I was like, no, there are kids. I'm going to help. So I put the phone down, and I got to the car, opened up the door, and there were three kids sitting there staring at me helplessly.”

— Casey Curtis (WPBF)

“We likely would not have found that car for a long period of time. It's one of these crashes that you read about every once in a while where cars just disappear, and you can't find them.”

— John Budensiek, Martin County Sheriff (WPBF)

What’s next

The family is asking for prayers for the mother's recovery as she remains hospitalized.

The takeaway

This incident serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of community members being willing to take immediate action to save lives in emergency situations, as Curtis' quick thinking and bravery likely prevented a tragic outcome.