‘It was all a blur’: Spanish Fork man recounts jumping into freezing river to rescue trapped driver
Jan 11, 2025, 9:51 PM | Updated: 10:21 pm
SPANISH FORK — Preston Haun was driving home with his wife on Friday night when he heard a crash.
“We were at the intersection where Arrowhead Trail and Main Street meet,” the Spanish Fork resident said. “We saw tail lights going down the hill.”
Haun and another bystander, 34-year-old Stefania Fox, pulled over to help and found a car upside down in the river.
“I yelled at my wife to call 911, and from there, it was all a blur,” Haun said.
Haun and Fox jumped into the cold river and began trying to open the doors of the vehicle, but to no avail. Haun said panic began to set in as the minutes passed.
They were finally able to pull the driver out of the car and onto the embankment, tending to him until paramedics arrived.
“That was just a relief,” Haun said.
“Any time that we have river flows that we have right now, it’s freezing water. They were up to their chest and had to reach in and pull him up out of the vehicle onto the shoreline,” said Spanish Fork Fire & EMS Chief Eddie Hales.
Hales said first responders were able to stabilize the driver and transport him to the hospital. While he had some lacerations, he was alive and conscious — thanks to the swift actions of a brave duo.
“These two individuals are heroes in our community and we’re proud of them for making that decision,” Hales said.
Haun said he was just following his instincts. And if given the same choice, he would do it all again.
“You don’t even think about it at the time. You just jump in and do it,” he said.
The rollover happened near where Haun’s son was killed a decade ago.
“I’m just glad he’s here,” Haun said of the driver he saved. “When things come down to a split-second decision, you know, I think that most people would make the right move and just do it. You don’t think. You see a car and just go.”
The cause of the crash is still under investigation.