By Barbara A. Preston | July 24, 2022
A 23-year-old Franklin Township woman is lucky to be alive, after the vehicle she was driving veered off the roadway at Canal Road and Jacques Lane and landed in the D&R Canal on July 21 at 10:57 pm.
Entrapped in her vehicle, Sara Goyal used her cell phone to call 9-1-1, and was connected to the Franklin Township Police Department. Police Dispatcher Ryan Howarth provided life-saving instructions to Goyal.
Goyal fortunately had a car safety hammer and was able to shatter her driver's side window and free herself. She swam to the canal embankment while her vehicle began to float northbound. Police officers Brian Quigley, Lauren Gregory, and Keshawn James rescued Goyal from the edge of the canal. Firefighters and EMS Personnel responded to the scene, treated Goyal for minor injuries, and released her at the scene.
The car safety hammer tool that helped save the life of a young woman after her vehicle veered into the D&R Canal and she became trapped. The tool includes a window breaker hammer and a seat belt cutter, and costs about $14 on Amazon.
“I commend Ms. Goyal for her courage and calmness during this emergency," Franklin Township Public Safety Director Quovella Maeweather said. "She was prepared with a window-break tool, something I suggest to all drivers on the roadway.
"Dispatcher Howarth’s decisive, skillful, and convincing actions prevented a tragedy. I also commend our officers, who are currently being trained in water rescue, for responding swiftly and selflessly. This was a group effort by citizens, Franklin Township officers, the fire department, and EMS personnel. I would like to express my sincere gratitude for everyone’s efforts.”
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The factors that contributed to the crash are currently under investigation by the Franklin Township Police Department.
