Flagler deputy pulls trapped woman out of overturned car in ditch

BUNNELL, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - A Flagler County deputy is being commended for his quick actions after he saved a woman trapped in her Toyota Tacoma Truck. It happened around 1:40 a.m. Thursday morning on County Road 80 in Bunnell.

Sheriff’s Office officials say the 21-year-old victim was driving westbound on County Road 80 when she swerved to avoid hitting a deer, causing her car to overturn and land in ditch nearly six feet deep. “She was trapped, she was hanging upside down, and water was coming into her truck, of course that would be a frightening situation for anyone,” said Laura Williams with the Sheriff’s Office.

The victim told 911 operators she had been in the ditch for nearly 45 minutes, before she was able to cut herself out of her seat belt and reach her phone, but even then, she was still trapped in her truck, so she called 911.  “I need help,” she told 911 operators during the dramatic 911 call.

Soon after, Deputy Aaron Beausoleil, 24, arrived on the scene to help rescue the victim.  "He said, 'I'm going to use my baton and smash the window,' and that's what he did, and he and another deputy then who had arrived, pulled her out," Williams said.

Fortunately, the victim only suffered a bruised shin and didn't have to go to the hospital.  The Sheriff's Office is just glad the deputy arrived on the scene when he did.  "Thank God she was able to be freed, and the deputy said, 'It's a good feeling,'" Williams said.

Beausoleil has been a road patrol deputy with the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office for a just over a year.