LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A fishing trip on the Greenwood Boat Ramp turned into a rescue when three Louisville teens rushed into the Ohio River to help pull a driver from his car as it sank.
It happened around 6:20 p.m. Monday at the boat ramp in southwest Jefferson County, according to Louisville Metro Police.
"We got there and as soon as we got there, we seen the man go into the water," said Abraham Cruz. "So I took off and I started running, and as soon as I started running, they both started running."
Jacob Cruz (left), Abraham Cruz (middle), and Kenay Valdes (right) were fishing near the Greenwood Boat Ramp in Louisville Monday, April 21, 2025, when they saw a vehicle drive into the water and jumped into action to rescue the driver.
Abraham Cruz, his brother Jacob Cruz, and their friend Kenay Valdes had just arrived to do some fishing when they noticed people running.
"Everyone was running down, so we went straight to the boat docks and then the car started floating away and all the people were running down and we got there and was like, what's happening? Let's just go see," Valdes said.
The Pleasure Ridge Park High School students jumped into action.
"It was pretty quick," said Abraham Cruz. "As soon as we got there, we got in the water, we found a rope, we don't even know who gave it to us."
Once they got the rope, Jacob Cruz started pulling the car out of the water, while his brother tried to get the man out.
"Whenever I opened the door, he went like this to me, I grabbed him and picked him up and just swam with him," Abraham Cruz said.
Jason Stinson, PRP High School principal, said he was extremely proud when he found out about the rescue.
"They went out and put themselves in harms way to rescue somebody they don't know," said Stinson. "If that doesn't tell you excellence right there, then I don't know what does."
As for all the attention the teens have gotten since the rescue, they said Tuesday they didn't expect it, and still can't believe it even happened.
"We didn't think it was going to be like, a big deal," Abraham Cruz said. "I actually thought it was just going to be like a fish and that's it, nobody was even going to think about it but apparently it's not like that."
According to Louisville Metro Police, the driver's car had some sort of mechanical failure. A department spokesperson said in a statement Monday that the driver had suffered a medical emergency. At last check, the driver was being treated at the hospital and is expected to be OK.
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