A Super Bowl commercial showed a dramatic rescue from a Central Coast fire department-- did you catch it?
A 2012 rescue by the Santa Barbara County Fire Department was featured during a Verizon Wireless commercial that saluted first responders.
In the commercial, firefighters are seen rescuing three people as a car dangled over a bridge on Highway 101 near Buellton.
The California Highway Patrol said a semi-truck driving northbound on Highway 101 crashed into a B-M-W traveling the same direction around 3 p.m. on January 12, 2012.
The big rig then went over the side of a bridge and burst into flames after it crashed into the creek bed below. The truck driver, 48-year-old Charles Allison Jr., died on scene.
First responders, including the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, CHP, and Caltrans had to focus their attention to the BMW dangling over the edge of the same bridge--a mother and her two children, a 10-year-old and 10-week old, still trapped inside.
By chance, a U.S. Navy Seabee tow vehicle happened to be driving in the area when the crash happened and was able to stabilize the BMW with a ladder extension so rescuers could extricate the woman and her children.
They were rescued successfully and were transported to the Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital where they were later treated for their injuries.
Verizon says it will be donating $1,500 towards the Santa Barbara County Fire Department's new Firehawk helicopter's water tank.
