Police officer rescues woman from water

FISHERS, Ind. (WISH) - A Fishers Police officer was at the right place at the right time Sunday when he watched an SUV flip in an embankment.

Officer Bill Smith was on his routine patrol Sunday when he witnessed what he thought was an impaired driver.

He initially radioed in for a traffic stop, but it turned out to be a rescue effort instead.

106th Street and Hague Road in Fishers can be a very busy intersection during rush hour traffic. But Sunday afternoon there wasn't much traffic at the intersection.

At the intersection were Officer Smith, a good samaritan, and the driver of the SUV, 51-year-old Debbie Beaty.

"There's been several occasions, where I've had to do the same or act quick," Officer Smith said.

According to Officer Smith, Beaty was attempting to make a left turn off 106th Street onto Hague Road. But instead of going south on Hague Road, she drove across the sidewalk, and down an embankment.

"Unfortunately for her, it couldn't have fell any more perfect...parallel right in the creek with the driver side down," Officer Smith said.

He said Beaty was lying in the water with her seat belt on. He used a window breaker to get to her.

"I broke the passenger side first and I could see her and she was yelling and her face was in the water," said Officer Smith.

Officer Smith held her head out of the water until help arrived.

He doesn't consider himself a hero; he says it was just being in the right place at the right time.

"I think anybody, a normal person seeing that happen, you’ve got to remember that's somebody's mom, wife or sister, daughter. So you’ve got to get down there and do what you've got to do, whether you're a cop or not," Officer Smith said.

Officer Smith would like to thank the other witnesses at the scene of the accident.

He said that another man gave him a crowbar to help break the SUV's windshield.

Beaty was taken to the hospital, but she is expected to be ok.