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Babies rescued from car sinking in Connetquot River

BY CHRISTINE ARMARIO AND MARC BEJA | christine.armario@newsday.com | Newsday Staff Writer

June 9, 2008

Twin babies strapped into their car seats were plucked from the Connetquot River Monday after their car accidentally rolled more than 70 feet and plunged into the river as their terrified mother, standing beside the car, screamed for help.

The twins' mother, helped by a Dowling College student and a security guard, pulled the youngsters to safety, police said.

Police said the babies were in their car seats at about 3:15 p.m. with the car's windows rolled down at Dowling College, where their mother, Coleen Charles, 30, of Bay Shore, helps control the population of geese.

Suffolk police said Charles may have accidentally left the 2003 Toyota Corolla in neutral -- and while she was outside of the vehicle, it apparently began rolling away.

"My babies, my babies!" Charles began yelling, according to witness Stacey Petrucci, 42, a student at the college.

It was unclear why Charles got out of the vehicle.

The car rolled about 70 to 100 feet down the hill and hit a wooden bulkhead before landing in the river, Marine Bureau Lt. Thomas Martorano said.

The nose of the car was buried in the mud, allowing the back of the car, where the twins were seated, to be visible.

Charles jumped into the water and pulled her babies out through the windows. She then handed them over to two people who heard the commotion and ran to her aid.

"All I had to do was reach over and grab one of the kids out of the water," said Anthony Pettaway, 21, of Manhattan, a philosophy student at the college. "I have long arms."

The babies and their mother were taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip. Police said the children did not appear hurt, and that their mother suffered minor abrasions, including one on her shin.

"The Dowling College community was wonderful," said the children's grandfather, Chris Jamison. "They were the best. I'm forever indebted to them."

At 5 p.m., only the top of the hood of the white car could still be seen sticking out of the water. Suffolk police officers in scuba gear were able to secure hooks under the car for a tow truck to pull it out of the water.

When officers opened the car door, some water poured out back into the river, and the keys could be seen dangling from the ignition.

James Cariddi, 45, a security guard on campus and the second person to help rescue the twins, said Charles never brings her children to work and that he related to her panic on yesterday's sweltering afternoon.

"I have children, I understand," he said.