FISHKILL – A New York State Trooper is credited with saving the life of a man that drove his car into a pond. The incident occurred at the Westage Business Center on Westgate Drive in Fishkill on August 17, 2022.
Trooper Francis Rush, assigned to the Wappinger barracks responded to the call along with fire and EMS personnel and learned that a person had driven a car into the pond and it was submerged in about 15 feet of water.
Trooper Rush, on the force since March of 2016, immediately dove into the water, swam to the unconscious victim, and pulled the man to shore.
Rescue divers from the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office entered the water to search for other possible victims. It was later determined that the driver was the only occupant of the car.
The driver was revived and treated at the scene before being transported to a local hospital for evaluation. The investigation determined that the victim had accidentally driven into the pond after suffering a medical emergency.
Body camera footage from Trooper Rush has been released by the Superintendent of the New York State Police and can be viewed here:
