A tragic traffic incident on Interstate 95 turned into a remarkable story of courage and new life this past Friday when a Good Samaritan rescued a pregnant woman from a sinking vehicle — and hours later she gave birth to her daughter.
Early on the morning of February 6, Logan Hayes, who was headed to work in Martin County, noticed a car off the roadway near the 112-mile marker and sinking into a roadside pond. Without hesitation, he ran to the water’s edge and plunged in, swimming roughly 30–40 feet toward the rapidly submerging vehicle as it filled with water.
Hayes reached the car just as it was about to be lost beneath the surface. The only part above water was the back passenger door. He pried it open and helped the driver, later identified as Sheldy Apollon of Port St. Lucie, climb out before the vehicle was fully submerged. Only then did he realize she was pregnant.
“I just couldn’t believe that at that exact moment I happened to be driving by,” Hayes said, recalling the split-second decision that may have saved two lives.
Martin County Fire Rescue crews arrived moments later, confirming no one else was in the vehicle and providing on-scene care before transporting Apollon to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce.
In an extraordinary twist, Apollon gave birth just hours after the rescue — and on her 29th birthday. Her daughter, Ivory Atara Sulley, was delivered via emergency C-section at around 34 weeks gestation, weighing 3 pounds, 14 ounces. Doctors report both mother and baby are in stable condition, though Ivory is expected to remain in neonatal care for continued monitoring.
“I call her my miracle baby,” Apollon said, reflecting on the whirlwind turn her special day took. “Now that we share our birthday, our bond is tighter than ever.”
Apollon’s fiancé, Woody Sully, personally thanked Hayes for his life-saving actions. Fire rescue officials also applauded Hayes’ bravery, saying his quick thinking made a difference in what could have been a devastating outcome.
Authorities continue to review the circumstances of the crash, with early reports indicating a medical issue may have contributed to the vehicle leaving the roadway. Regardless of cause, the dramatic rescue stands as a testament to human compassion and the power of intervention in a critical moment.
