Christy Knisely was among the Good Samaritans who helped save a man’s life after his truck flew off northbound Interstate 5 into the Agua Hedionda Lagoon in Carlsbad.
She was on her way home from work when she saw a pick-up truck driving erratically behind her, then race past.
CHP says the driver was going 100 miles per hour.
Minutes later, she says instinct kicked in when she realized it had flown off the freeway into the lagoon.
“It’s human life and there's nothing more important in my opinion," Knisely said.
The rescue effort included several employees from California Water Sports.
They jumped on jet skis and raced to the rescue of the 28-year-old Oceanside man pinned in the truck, driver’s side down in the water.
Local
“He was pinned in the car and I tried to pull him out of the water so he wouldn’t drown,” said Josh Cantor, Owner of California Water Sports.
“I saw the vehicle and just knew we had to get the person out of the vehicle. That’s all I could think about,” said Knisely.
Knisely put her Navy training to work, feeling for a pulse she says wasn’t there. She also noticed a gaping wound that went around the driver’s head.
“I just put my hands toward his sternum,” said Knisely. “ I knew I had to go there and started with my left hand just to give compressions is all I could do, because my right hand was holding his head."
She says after what seemed like forever, the man finally showed a sign of life after someone else helped to give compressions.
Knisely just hoping the 28-year-old man hadn’t taken his last breath.
“Whether or not that person completely survives tragedy or not, I felt like we gave his family a chance. Hopefully, it's not to say goodbye," she said.
CHP believes alcohol may have played a role in the crash.
