Former U.S Marine and FWC officer honored for saving man trapped in his car in the water

Congressman honors pair of heroes in Sarasota County. U. S. Rep. Greg Steube honored an FWC officer and a former U.

S. Marine for their efforts to save a man trapped in his submerged car. **NOKOMIS, Fla. ** - Two heroes were honored Monday afternoon in Sarasota County for the part they played in rescuing a man from a sinking car last December. Nine months ago, the weather outside Pop’s Sunset Grill in Nokomis wasn’t sunny.

It was foggy, rainy and dark. Bartender Dominic Yacca won’t forget what happened next. "The band stopped playing, and they announced there was a vehicle in the intercostal," he said. Yacca, a former U. S Marine, told his co-workers he’d be back.

"I ran across the street to my vehicle, got in it and drove over the bridge," said Yacca. When he got there, he knew he’d have to act fast. "The vehicle was already bouncing off the bridge, and passing high tide, rainy, windy. It was just bad conditions. The water was just moving," he recalled.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Officer Specialist Kelsey Dalton had been patrolling nearby and met Dominic at the bridge. "I said I have to get him out. Without hesitation, he said I’ll go with you and I grabbed my baton out of the truck," said Dalton. The two jumped into the water, where Eric Peterson was trapped in his car.