Bystander helps rescue woman after car plunges into Panama City Marina
Young man and girlfriend describe witnessing crash, pulling driver to safety
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) - A car went into the water at the Panama City Marina Thursday night, and a young bystander helped pull the driver to safety.
Maxim Constantino and his girlfriend, Kendall Richmond, were on a date when they witnessed the accident.
“I was holding her hands. I was giving her a nice big speech before I was gonna give her a promise ring,” Constantino said.
Witnessing the crash
Constantino said he was facing toward the water when he saw the car go through the fence and into the bay.
“I ran straight towards it just to make sure she was okay, and she seemed perfectly fine, wasn’t injured or anything. She was freaking out, though. She got on the roof of her car,” Constantino said.
Constantino said a fisherman threw the woman a rope before handing it to him.
“And then once she grabbed onto it, I started pulling it and a few other people joined me and pulled it,” Constantino said.
Constantino and another man got on the ledge and pulled the woman to safety.
Family reaction
Julia Constantino, Maxim’s mother, said she was proud when she heard the story.
“He told us the entire story, and we were so proud. My first thought was, ‘Did you jump in the water?’ Like, ‘Are you ok?’” Julia Constantino said.
Julia Constantino said her son is considering a career as a first responder, following his father.
“He’s actually thinking about a career in first responder related career, which I’m really proud of him. He takes it from his dad,” Julia Constantino said.
Vehicle recovered
On Friday, divers pulled the vehicle from the water.
Jerome Fleeman, battalion chief with the Panama City Fire Department, said the driver was uninjured.
NewsChannel 7 reached out to the sister of the young woman involved in the crash but has not heard back.
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