Hartford , VT - A 26-year-old woman and her 2-year-old son narrowly escaped a dangerous situation after their vehicle became submerged in the Ottauquechee River on Monday afternoon, April 6.

At approximately 12:45 PM, the Hartford Fire Department responded to reports of an occupied vehicle in the water near Quechee Main Street and the Mill Run Condominiums. Upon arrival at 12:49 PM, Ambulance #2 from Quechee Station 2 found both the mother and child safely on the riverbank.

According to responders, the child had been secured in a car seat in the back of the vehicle. The mother managed to free him, cut through the deployed driver-side airbag, and exit through a window before the vehicle drifted downstream. Both were able to swim to safety.

First responders assisted the pair into an ambulance and transported them to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center for evaluation. No serious injuries were reported.

Additional units from Station 1 arrived shortly after, at 12:55 PM. Rescue swimmers entered the water to ensure no other occupants remained in the vehicle and confirmed it was empty.

Quechee Main Street was temporarily closed during the emergency response but has since reopened. The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the Hartford Police Department.

The vehicle was later removed from the river by Sabil and Sons Inc., with fire personnel assisting at the scene. Although Lebanon and Hanover Fire Departments were initially dispatched, their assistance was ultimately not required.