SALEM, Ore. -- Police officers and firefighters jumped into a churning creek and rescued a woman who had been hit by a car on a bridge in the Salem area and knocked into the water below.
Salem police and fire personnel responded quickly and were able to rescue the woman near the Mission Street bridge over Mill Creek. They said the impact of the crash sent Janice Johnson, 48, flying over the concrete barrier about 30 feet into the water below just after 6:30 Wednesday night.
“The area was very dark with heavy traffic, and she was struck by a 2005 Ford van that was being driven eastbound on Mission St by 73-year old Barbara Witt of Salem,” said Lt. Dave Okada with the Salem Police Department. “Johnson, who was wearing dark clothing at the time, was thrown off the front of the van, completely over the concrete barrier next to the roadway and into the water below.”
Passing motorists immediately called 9-1-1 and when police arrived, Johnson was hanging on to a branch under the north end of the bridge.
“Officer Oscar Zambrano immediately jumped into the water and held onto Johnson so she would not be swept further downstream,” Okada said. “He was soon joined by Salem Police Officer Juan Becerra, Salem Police Sergeant Andy Connolly and Salem Firefighter/Medic Amy Charbonneau, who assisted in pulling Johnson to the bank of the creek.”
Then, firefighters had to cut a path in the brush in order to get Johnson up to the awaiting ambulance for transport to Salem Hospital, where she was treated for injuries that were not life-threatening.
“The actions of Officers Zambrano and Becerra, Sgt Connolly and Firefighter Charbonneau likely saved victim Janice Johnson from much more severe injury, or even death in the cold water. Their willingness to jump into the cold, dark water to assist another person was a selfless act that displayed the professionalism and bravery of these public servants,” Okada said.
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