City of Menasha Police Department A mother rushed to save her baby after their vehicle plunged into a marina in Wisconsin on Aug. 19 One passerby scaled a fence to help the pair, and two other locals rushed to assist The cause of the incident is under investigation A baby is safe after a car plunged into a marina in Wisconsin, thanks to the quick actions of the child's mother and passing strangers, authorities said. On the evening of Tuesday, Aug. 19, a woman was in her car with her 1-year-old child, who was safely strapped into a car seat, when the incident occurred near 1 Center Street in Menasha, theCity of Menasha Police Departmentsaid in a statement shared on Facebook. In surveillance footage shared by authorities, the car can be seen rolling beyond the parking space, under a fence and down an embankment, before sinking into the Menasha Marina. "The vehicle was attempting to park here, and then drove slowly — looks like an idle speed, or just a little bit of accelerator — and then it drove through here," Matthew Roe, the community liaison officer for the Menasha Police Department, told FOX affiliateWLUK. "Missed the tree and the electrical connections right here." Acting with "extraordinary courage," the woman in the car worked to free her baby from the submerged vehicle and got them both to safety, the police department said. PEOPLE has contacted officials for further information. "As the mother worked to rescue her child, one community member sprinted toward the marina, scaling a fence without hesitation to reach them," officials continued. "This individual's fearless response set the tone for the rescue." After one person jumped the fence to reach the mother and toddler, two other passersby arrived to make sure the pair was safe. By 8:53 p.m. local time, officers responded to a report that a vehicle had entered the water. After they arrived, authorities confirmed that no one else was inside the car. There wasn't much damage caused by the vehicle, Roe said, noting to WLUK, "When the car drove under the fence, the fence just collapsed back down. You can see where the fence cap was knocked loose." He added, "The car went right underneath it — did not even damage the poles and the concrete foundation." Following a preliminary investigation, police believe the incident occurred because of "confusion in vehicle control," authorities said. The woman may have accidentally hit the gas instead of the brake pedal while trying to park, according to WLUK. The incident remains under investigation. Google Maps When the vehicle was removed from the marina the next day, the water was so deep that the top of the car couldn't be seen from the shore, Roe told the outlet. Menasha Police Chief Nick Thorn praised the mother and community members' fearlessness following the incident. Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "The courage shown by this mother and the community members who rushed to her side prevented a tragedy," he said in statement shared in the news release. "Their actions reflect the very best of our community and remind us how powerful it is when people step forward in moments of need." Read the original article onPeople
