QUECHEE — A woman and her child escaped with no serious injuries after their car crashed into the Ottauquechee River near Main Street on Monday.
A 26-year-old woman was hanging onto her vehicle as it floated downstream when members of the Hartford Fire Department responded to a report of an unoccupied and submerged vehicle around 12:45 p.m., according to a news release from the department.
The mother was able to unbuckle her 2-year-old son from his car seat in the back of the car, cut through an air bag to escape through the window and swim safely to shore.
By the time an ambulance arrived four minutes later, the woman and her son were safe on the bank of the river.
An ambulance transported the pair to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center for evaluation though they had no apparent serious injuries.
Rescue swimmers confirmed there were no other occupants of the vehicle.
Sabil and Sons towing removed the car from the water.
Quechee Main Street was closed during the emergency response. The Hartford Police Department is investigating the cause of the crash.
