Baby Survives 14 Hours in Freezing Utah River: 18-Month-Old In Miracle Survival Following Car Crash
An 18-month-old baby was in critical condition after surviving the freezing water of a river in Utah for 14 hours when the car driven by her mother plunged into the river on Friday. The mother, identified as Lynn Jennifer Groesbeck, 25, died in the accident which took place in Spanish Fork, Utah.
According to the Spanish Fork Police, Groesbeck, from Springville, together with her baby named Lily, left her parents' house in Salem at about 10 p.m. and was traveling to Springville when the accident occurred.
A resident near the accident said he heard something at about 10:30 p.m. and checked but did not find anything unusual.
Spanish Fork Public Safety officers were dispatched to the scene at noon the following day after the accident was reported when a fisherman found the car in the river.
"The vehicle was positioned on its top and upon arrival of emergency services the vehicle was tipped on its side," the police said. "An infant was located in a car seat in the rear passenger seat of the vehicle. A deceased female was located in the driver's seat. The vehicle is a four-door Dodge passenger car," the police added.
"We were delighted to see the baby was alive," said Lt. Cory Slaymaker of the Spanish Fork Police Department, according to KUTV.com.
The baby was taken to the Mountain View Hospital by ambulance and later airlifted to the Primary Children's Hospital.
According to the police, the vehicle might have rammed a cement barrier on the bridge causing it to crash into the river.
The Utah Highway Patrol is helping the local police with the investigation.
Three police officers and four fire fighters were also taken to the Mountain View Hospital for treatment of hypothermia. They were released later.
Police said he called dispatch, and rescuers entered the river, turning the car on its side.
Groesbeck was engaged to be married. Police said drugs and alcohol were not factors in this crash.