Updated 07/20/2012 05:15 PM
Three Children Rescued After Van Rolls into Pond
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"We were having a great time. The three little ones and myself were fishing and probably had a banner day catching fish,” said Sherrie Anderson.
Sherrie and five of her eight children were enjoying a summer afternoon at the family pond in Bristol, Ontario County. While the three younger kids were doing some fishing from shore, Sherrie shot video of her two teenage girls trying to push one another off a boat into the water.
"It happened so fast. I turned to my left and the van just was, it just felt like it was in full speed."
As it began to rain, the three young children headed to the family van to stay dry. Sherrie says her five-year-old daughter Chase found the keys in the cup holder, put them into the ignition, and placed the transmission in neutral.
The van rolled about 120 feet into the water.
Sherrie said when she saw the van roll past her and into the water, she quickly entered the pond and reached the van before it went under.
"It was already submerging. I was able to get in through the backdoor of the van and they were very calm. They were crying but they were very obedient so I told them to climb over the seats."
From the boat, the girls also saw the van enter the pond. They say they reacted just as fast as their mother.
"We just jumped in and swam over. And I remember while I was swimming, I saw Chase and Justice, and they were kind of at the window, screaming,” said McKenna, daughter. “And I saw them turn around and walk back to my mom."
This family of ten has recovered and is grateful everyone is okay. However, little Chase, who told her mother she just wanted to turn on the heat in the van, is still taking it pretty hard.
"I just try to tell her that it is an accident, and she didn't know what she was really doing, and stuff. I don't blame her at all," said Jordyn.
Because of the quick actions of Sherrie and her two oldest daughters, what could have been a family tragedy is now a lesson learned. The keys will not be left in the car's cup holder and Sherrie says she will no longer park on an incline when visiting the pond.