Hero officers, bystanders save mom, baby pinned under car: It’s honestly a miracle
Heroic police officers and bystanders were credited with saving lives when an out-of-control car slammed into a mother carrying her child
[July 26, 2021: The Brighter Side of News]
Heroic police officers Rocco Fusco and Paul Samoyedny were credited with saving the lives of a baby and mother pinned underneath a car. (CREDIT: ABC News)
Heroic police officers and bystanders were credited with saving lives when an out-of-control car slammed into a mother carrying her child as they crossed the street.
"It's honestly a miracle that both of them survived -- very strong mom and an even stronger little infant," said Officer Rocco Fusco, one of the responding officers.
Video shows the 36-year-old woman and her 8-month-old child crossing the street Friday in Yonkers, New York, when a car speeds around the corner, loses control, hits multiple parked cars and slams into them. The car then barrels into a barbershop, dragging the mother and baby along.
Fusco and fellow Yonkers Police Department Officer Paul Samoyedy were grabbing breakfast at a bagel shop next door during the crash and immediately jumped into action.
Body camera footage shows Fusco and bystanders as they lifted the car off of the pinned woman and child.
"Somebody's gotta pull the baby," a person is heard yelling in the video.
Samoyedy, a 15-year veteran of the force, is then seen pulling the 8-month-old from underneath the vehicle.
"I got, I got it, I got the baby," he is heard saying in the video.
The mother suffered a compound fracture to one of her legs, and the baby has a fractured skull. Both are expected to recover.
Police said the driver was 43-year-old David Poncurack, who is unlicensed. He was arrested at the scene and charged with driving while intoxicated.
"The driver did get out and immediately went over to see if the woman was OK," Samoyedy said.
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Tags: #Good_News, #Police, #Heroism, #The_Brighter_Side_of_News
Joseph Shavit
Science News Writer, Editor-At-Large and Publisher
Joseph Shavit, based in Los Angeles, is a seasoned science journalist, editor and co-founder of The Brighter Side of News, where he transforms complex discoveries into clear, engaging stories for general readers. With experience at major media groups like Times Mirror and Tribune, he writes with both authority and curiosity. His work spans astronomy, physics, quantum mechanics, climate change, artificial intelligence, health, and medicine. Known for linking breakthroughs to real-world markets, he highlights how research transitions into products and industries that shape daily life.