Sarasota man frees woman from sinking vehicle

A Sarasota woman was rescued from her car after driving it into a retention pond yesterday.

Robin Olersiak, 54, of Sarasota, was traveling north on McIntosh Road at around 3:26 p.m. After crossing the intersection of Bahia Vista and McIntosh, she drove off the road and into the retention pond on the corner of the intersection, according to the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office. 

David Gaul, 47, of Sarasota, saw Olersiak’s car in the water. He freed Olersiak before the car sank fully into the water.

Olersiak told EMS responders and deputies later that she had blacked out before veering off the roadway. She was transported to Doctors Hospital of Sarasota, treated and released.