Ray the Ray – Hero of the Day – Justin Sudol of Wantage rescues woman from sinking vehicle

Quick action on the part of a Wantage man saved the life of an 18 year old driver of a Jeep after it had spun out of control on a rain-slicked Route 628 and ended up in about 10 feet of water in an adjoining pond.

Instinct was the motivator that led 34 year old Justin Sudol, who was a passenger in a car approaching from the other direction, to yell to the driver to stop so he could call 911.

With that, he then jumped into the water to save the driver of the Jeep.

He said the driver was tethered to her seatbelt on the phone with her mother when he swam up and lifted the rear hatch – allowing the driver to swim to shore.

According to this, he said:

“I swam up and I heard screaming. I thought there were kids in there,” Sudol said. 

Sudol swam to the back of the vehicle and lifted the rear hatch, figuring opening a side door would immediately swamp the Jeep. He helped the driver out, then stayed in the water with the woman as she swam to safety. The Jeep sank a few minutes later.

It’s ironic that while Sudol has friends who’ve served in the coast guard, he doesn’t have any first responder training himself.

Only instinct to do the right thing.

Justin Sudol of Wantage – today’s Ray the Ray Hero of the Day!