Officer Darrell Shaffer rescued a three-year-old and an eight-month-old from this vehicle after it drove into a retention pond during a pursuit. (Photo: Fox 32 Screen Shot)
Northwest Indiana Police Officer Darrell Shaffer is being hailed a hero for his swift actions in saving two young girls from a car that ended up submerged in a retention pond.
The rescue happened after the girls' mother, who was driving, led police on a high-speed chase from St. John, Indiana to Highland, Ind.
Shaffer, a 24-year police veteran and father of three, rescued a 3-year-old girl and an 8-month old girl from the back seat. The car was in chest-deep water, Fox 32 reports.
Dashcam footage from Shaffer's squad car captured the pursuit eastbound on 80/94. The lead car is seen splashing into the retention pond off the Kennedy Avenue exit ramp. Moments later, Officer Shaffer is seen running into the water.
The mother and the man who earlier fled police were both arrested. Police say he also ended up in a retention pond after trying to escape on foot.
Both the man and the woman — who are both from Chicago — are in custody at the Lake County Sheriff's Department.
Both children are expected to be OK.
