Canada Journal – News of the World Articles and videos to bring you the biggest Canadian news stories from across the country every day
A mother was undergoing a mental health evaluation after driving a van with her three children inside into the ocean in Daytona Beach, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Department stated in a news release Wednesday.
All four family members were safely rescued in the incident, which began about 5 p.m. Tuesday and was captured on video.
A beach safety officer near the beach approach on Silver Beach Avenue noticed a Honda Odyssey with a South Carolina tag driving recklessly.
Tim Tesseneer, of Rutherfordton, N.C., said he was one of the two men to first reach the minivan.
The pregnant mother allegedly drove the van into the ocean Tuesday afternoon. Tesseneer said the woman made a hard turn toward the ocean.
Tesseneer told WESH that one of the children inside was screaming that their mom was trying to kill them.
“The two in the back seat were crying, with their arms out saying ‘Our mommy’s trying to kill us, please help,'” said Tesseneer.
The vehicle drove southbound in the surf, parallel to the shore, before turning east and driving into approximately 3-4 feet of water.
As additional beach safety officers arrived on scene, the van was floating and was almost completely submerged in the water. The incident also attracted several bystanders who were running in the water alongside of the van trying to get the driver to stop.
The van eventually came to a halt approximately 3/4-mile south of the Silver Beach approach.
With the help of the bystanders, beach safety officers were able to remove the occupants — two girls and a boy, including a toddler who was strapped into a booster seat — and take them on shore to safety.
Beach personnel along with paramedics from the County’s ambulance service and the Daytona Beach Fire Department tended to the mother and children.
All four were then taken by ambulance to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach. Meanwhile, beach safety officers managed to attach a tow rope to the van and pull it to shore.
The Sheriff’s Office is working with County Beach Safety as the investigation into the incident continues.
Information from WESH and The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.
Agencies/Canadajournal
