MARTIN COUNTY, Fla. — A truck driver was arrested after hit-and-run crash on Kanner Highway sent a car, with a mother and child inside, into a retention pond Monday morning.
The crash happened at around 9 a.m. at 3161 S Kanner Highway.
Martin County Sheriff's Office said the woman was driving a car with her 3-year-old child inside, when it was struck by a semi-truck that was switching lanes. The impact caused her to veer off the road and into the pond.
Nearby construction workers spoke with WPTV's Zitlali Solache and said they helped the mother and her child out of the car. “We kind of looked up and saw a vehicle submerged in the pond," stated Joseph Cooper with GA Construction Group.
Cooper said it was a team effort between many construction workers. “We reacted to seeing someone in distress," shared Cooper.
WATCH: Community members react to accident resulting in car veering into a pond with mother and child inside
Neighbors like John Spadavecchia live near the scene and said Kanner Highway is a dangerous roadway.
“It’s wild. People speed up and down it a lot," stated Spadavecchia. "I have a one and a half year old at home myself, so I couldn’t imagine if my wife and child got into an accident and a semi hit them and ran.”
The mother and her child were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
The driver of the truck, 69-year-old Alton Winters of Florida, slowed down briefly but then drove off to a local produce company, claiming he had to make a delivery, deputies said.
Winters was later located by the Stuart Police Department and taken into custody.
He faces leaving the scene of a crash with injuries and improper lane change charges.
