Florida family, gifts salvaged by ‘human chain’ after car ends up in ditch off I-95: ‘Christmas is saved’

Officials form 'human chain' to save Christmas

Bystanders helped get the family out of the car before first responders arrived – but left inside the vehicle were all of the kids' Christmas gifts. They formed a "human chain" and the gifts were passed to deputies, who moved them to dry land.

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. - A crash on Interstate-95 threatened to derail the Christmas joy for one family traveling with gifts – but bystanders and first responders were able to restore the holiday spirit.

A woman and three young children – the oldest of which was about 5 years old – were injured in a car crash in Volusia County after their car veered off the highway, struck a pole, rolled and ended up in a water-filled ditch, according to the Volusia Sheriff's Office. The incident happened around 11:45 a.m. on the southbound lanes of I-95.

Photo: Volusia Sheriff's Office

Bystanders helped get the family out of the car before first responders arrived – but left inside the vehicle were all of the kids' Christmas gifts.

"After the victims were transferred to an ambulance, (Volusia Sheriff's Office deputies and Ormond Beach firefighters) went above and beyond by using a ladder to access the submerged vehicle and were able to salvage most of the gifts from the vehicle," deputies said.

Photo: Volusia Sheriff's Office

First responders were able to form a "human chain" and the gifts were passed to deputies, who moved them to dry land.

"Because of these efforts, deputies were able to transport the gifts to the VSO office, where they were sorted, dried, supplemented with a few extra donated gifts, and then brought to the hospital for the children," deputies added.