Officer helps save woman from sinking car at south Lincoln pond, police say

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – An officer helped save a woman from a sinking car at a south Lincoln pond on Wednesday, police say.

First responders were sent to the pond near 14th Street and Yankee Hill Road around 4:35 p.m.

Lincoln Police said Thursday that a 27-year-old woman was driving fast on the icy road when she left the roadway, struck a transformer and drove into the pond.

When Sgt. Tu Tran arrived, he saw that the vehicle was nearly submerged, according to police.

UPDATE: ‘Holy cow! There’s actually someone in here’: LPD sergeant on saving woman from sinking car

Tran took off his police equipment, jumped into the water and swam to the vehicle.

Police say he was able to open a rear door but couldn’t see through the murky water.

Tran reached inside the vehicle, felt a leg and pulled the woman out of the car before it sank to the bottom, according to police.

LPD is proud to recognize Sergeant Tu Tran for his actions in rescuing a party from a submerged vehicle yesterday afternoon. Sergeant Tran quickly entered the frigid water and extricated the driver. This is his 2nd water rescue in less than 6 months! pic.twitter.com/MZbPGlJZKp

— Lincoln Police (@Lincoln_Police) February 23, 2023

She was taken to a local hospital to be treated for cold weather-related injuries, Lincoln Fire & Rescue Battalion Chief Jeff Topil said on Wednesday.

Tran went home, got a new uniform and went back to work, police say.  This was Tran’s second water rescue in less than six months.