Champaign County sheriff's deputy hit in patrol car helps rescue driver who went into pond

Firefighters and firefighters rushed to the scene.

Investigators reported that a 2018 BMW driven by Jeffrey Davis, 55, of Grove City, failed to stop at the sign and pulled in front of Culler's car, causing the crash.

The BMW left the road, crossed a residential yard and entered a pond northeast of the intersection.

“Upon entering the pond, the vehicle immediately began to sink with the driver still inside,” the sheriff’s statement said.

Culler freed himself from his damaged and disabled patrol vehicle and dove into the water to rescue the driver, who was struggling to exit the vehicle.

After several failed attempts to save the driver of the submerged car, the release said, Culler was joined by Paul D'Angelo, who lives in the area. The two men entered the water and “after several additional attempts, they managed to extract the driver from the submerged vehicle and help him to reach the shore.”

Mechanicsburg Fire/EMS personnel treated Davis, who was then taken to Miami Valley Hospital by CareFlight for treatment of his injuries. No information was immediately available on his condition Friday.

Culler received treatment for minor injuries and exposure and was released from the emergency department at Mercy Health's Urbana campus.

The accident is still under investigation.