EFFINGHAM COUNTY, Ill. (WTWO/WAWV) — A couple in Effingham County, Illinois, has been recognized with a Distinguished Act Award after saving a driver’s life from a vehicle submerged in water after a crash.
Dustin and Bridget Harder received the award during the Effingham County Board meeting on August 18. The Effingham County Sheriff’s Office said the Harders were recognized for their compassion and bravery during an accident they witnessed and assisted with in July 2025.
“Mr. and Mrs. Harder’s initiative to help others in a moment of crisis speaks volumes about their character, and they are to be commended,” said Effingham County Sheriff Paul Kuhns in a Facebook post.
The Harders’ compassion and bravery were on full display after they witnessed the accident, where a single vehicle drove off the roadway at the intersection of Park Avenue and Safety Harbor Drive and then continued down an embankment before landing in a small cove of Lake Sarah, according to the sheriff’s office.
The front end of the vehicle became mostly submerged in the water, with a male driver still located inside.
After witnessing the accident, the sheriff’s office said the Harders stopped and attempted to assist the driver; however, the door of the vehicle was locked, and the driver was unable to unlock the door from the inside.
As Dustin continued to try to open the door, the sheriff’s office said Bridget retrieved a glass-breaking tool from their vehicle and gave it to Dustin.
Dustin was then able to break the glass, unlock the door and assist the man out of the flooded cab to safety.
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