Navy Crew Helps Out in Amazing Ravine Rescue

jan 14, 2012

ABC News' Katti Gray reports:

A Navy construction crew passing by the scene of a horrific wreck joined forces with emergency rescue workers to keep a mangled BMW carrying a California mother, her 10-year-old daughter and 10-week baby from slipping off a bridge and plunging into a 100-foot deep ravine.

The vehicle dangled off the bridge Thursday after being rear-ended by a tractor-trailer, which broke through the concrete barriers and fell into the creek bed. The truck driver was killed.

Santa Barbara County, Calif., Fire Department rescue workers had been trying to pry Kelli Lynne Groves and her children out the car when the Navy Seabees were driving by with their equipment.

"They all got out and wanted to know if they could help maybe with traffic or something else," California Highway Patrol Officer Danny Maher said. "They had a large forklift with them. ... It was actually just good luck on our part."

The forklift held the car steady until the county workers were finally able to free the family. The three were airlifted to Santa Barbara's Cottage Hospital where the baby girl, who had been in a car seat, was treated for minor injuries.

"I think that car seat saved her life," Maher said.

Sage Grove, 10, was upgraded from critical to serious today and the girl's mother was listed in fair condition today, a hospital nursing supervisor told ABC News.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Navy
• construction
• crew
• help
• crash
• family
• california

[isaiahdogbus]

Thank God those involved in the rescue were not politicians! They made frontline decisions and acted on them. Thank you to all rescue and military personnel. God bless!

[blal07]

bmw crash test rating seems good

[323323ify]

It was determined the truck driver had such a high level of Meth in his system that he was probably suffering hallucinations. He burned to death, hopefully very slowly. Tweekers deserve every ounce of pain they experience in thier deaths as well as in thier miserable lives.

[Bullseye5477]

This is why America wins!

[frostbitten4]

@lrstephens56 The semi driver was speeding and overtook the car. No attempt to stop or brake before the impact. In my opinion the truck driver fell asleep or had a medical issue that caused the accident and she and her family are paying for his mistake. Maybe you should research a bit before posting your opinions. God speed to the Groves for a full and speedy recovery.

[RetSquid]

1) Way to go Sea Bees!!

2) It's not often the car wins vs. a semi.

[TgDarkWolf]

Storys like this make me proud to be a seabee, HORRAH NMCB 3!!

[lrstephens56]

Thankful that the family survived and not surprised that the SeaBees helped without being asked. First question in my mind was how did that car come to be so close to the front of the semi? I see many many personal vehicles that pass a semi & cut right back in front of the truck without the proper space or maintaining speed. If you don't give enough clearance and keep up your speed, the semi cannot slow down or stop fast enough. This trucker probably paid for her mistake.

[selimdridi]

It's not luck and it's not the car...It's god.

[MrThunderMetal]

Outstanding job. Way to go SeaBee's

[smilo54]

Go Navy!

[Ithiaca]

CeeBee's !!!! Nuff said!