Monroe County officer helps woman escape submerged vehicle

Sundvall found the vehicle near the boundary of Juneau and Monroe counties. (Contributed photo)

Monroe County Deputy David Sundvall freed a woman from a submerged vehicle Monday morning near the boundary of Monroe and Juneau counties, according to Juneau County police.

At 10:42 a.m., the Juneau County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a woman saying that her vehicle was in the water and she could not get out. The caller did not know her exact location, but gave a general area of south of Highway 21, near Second Avenue.

Juneau County Dispatch requested assistance from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, and a wrecker service and personnel in the area heard the call and also responded.

Sundvall found the vehicle near the intersection of Second Avenue and 22nd Street in the town of Cutler. The front of the vehicle was submerged, and the rear of the vehicle was out of the water. As the tow-truck personnel attempted to remove the vehicle, it slid into the water, becoming completely submerged.

Sundvall removed his duty belt, entered the water and attempted to free the woman by opening the driver’s door. Then the door handle broke.

At that point, Sundvall dove into the water and entered the vehicle through the open window in an attempt to free the driver from her seatbelt. Though Sundvall was unable to free the operator on his first dive, he did so on his second dive, getting her out of the vehicle. Wrecker personnel assisted Sundvall in getting the vehicle operator to shore, where medical personnel treated her.

Juneau County Sheriff Brent Olesen said, “I want to acknowledge the heroic actions of Monroe County Deputy David Sundvall and Michael Morphy and Patrick Scott of Shaw’s Wrecker Service. Deputy Sundvall placed himself in grave danger when he dove underwater to rescue the operator of the vehicle. His actions reflect highly on his character and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.”

Olesen continued, “The same can be said about the character of Morphy and Scott. Their assistance and the team effort by all three men no doubt saved the life of another.”

Monroe County Deputy David Sundvall (contributed photo)

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