Family rescued after car goes into ditch in Volusia, human chain saves gifts

Deputies and firefighters in Volusia County helped rescue a woman and three small children on Christmas after their vehicle crashed into a ditch along Interstate 95, according to a news release.

Deputies said they responded to a crash along the southbound lanes of Interstate 95 around 11:45 a.m.

According to the release, a vehicle went off of the highway, struck a pole, rolled and came to rest in a ditch with about three feet of water.

Deputies said a woman and three small children — the oldest about 5 years old — were in the vehicle and only suffered minor injuries.

“Good news: Everyone is OK and Christmas is saved!” officials said in a social media post.

Bystanders were able to help the occupants of the vehicle before first responders arrived, but all of the children’s Christmas gifts were in the vehicle, deputes said.

According to the release, after the victims were transported to the hospital, crews “went above and beyond” by using a ladder to access the vehicle and were able to salvage most of the gifts.

A human chain was formed by the firefighters who passed the gifts to deputies, who then moved them to dry land.

“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,” the release read in part.