By Linda Trischitta
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
POMPANO BEACH, Fla. — Pierre Imbert was trapped in his 3,400-pound car, drowning in a canal on New Year’s Day, when five men banded together to save his life.
For their heroics, the group was honored Tuesday by city officials with a standing ovation and mementos usually awarded to firefighters and paramedics. Imbert, 51, of Fort Lauderdale Is your Fort Lauderdale restaurant clean? -- Click Here., who works on auto interiors, survived.
His rescuers’ great start to 2009 began when all were traveling north on Interstate 95 in the late afternoon. The sky was clear and the road was dry when U.S. Customs Agent Sean Fletcher said he saw a red 1984 Mercedes Benz convertible turn right from the HOV lane and cross four lanes before it left the highway north of Atlantic Boulevard.
Jesse Pady, a 28-year-old condo manager, pulled onto the shoulder when he saw tires poking through the canal surface. There, too, were Boca Raton roommates Anthony Iovino, 24, a bingo hall floor manager, and Scott Roseman, 23, who works for a tanning franchise.
“We ran out and went over because we heard a lot of people screaming,” Iovino said.
Sanitation man Lorenzo Ray lives east of I-95. Skidding tires and a loud bang summoned the 30-year-old to the water’s edge, where he saw the sinking car.
Imbert said his car lost control from the right hand lane of I-95. As it plowed down the fence and neared the water, he thought, “Oh Lord, if I go into the canal, that’s the end. I can’t swim.”
The father of two adult children knows cars inside and out, but could not escape.
“I cannot find the latch,” Imbert said. “I know I am drinking water and there was no way out. I give up right there.”
Ray jumped a fence and met Fletcher in the canal, joined by Pady, Iovino and Roseman. They took turns diving into the mucky water, sometimes feeling Imbert’s hand but unable to pull him out.
The men decided the only way to free the 6-foot-3 man was to flip the heavy car. With adrenaline-fueled shouts they did just that, and found an unconscious driver strapped into his seat.
“I remember seeing his face and first thing I thought was, we were too late,” Iovino said.
Someone produced a knife to cut the seat belt and the group carried Imbert to shore. This week, the city also recognized Patricia Cardenas and Dianne Peterson, who aided Imbert before Pompano Beach Fire Rescue took over.
Staff Researchers Gail Bulfin and Barbara Hijek contributed to this report.