WEST ORANGE, Texas – A newly released bodycam video shows the moment a 12-year-old boy flagged down a West Orange police officer to save his mother from drowning.
Jonquetta Winbush remains in intensive care three weeks after she drove off the road and into a body of water in July. The accident occurred near Highway 8 and Edgar Brown Drive.
Winbush suffered a seizure which caused the accident. Fortunately, she was taken off the ventilator and is breathing on her own.
On Monday, the city of West Orange honored the team of officials and citizens who helped rescue the mother of two.
Epifanio Munguia risked his life to save Winbush. Munguia was in the right place at the right time to save a life. Munguia says he spotted Winbush’s car in the water next to Highway 87 on the evening of July 24.
Winbush’s two children were in the car at the time of the accident and were able to get out. Winbush, however, was not. The children flagged down a police officer and asked him for help.
Munguia was one of many, including two West Orange police officers, who stopped to help pull her out.
“After seeing her, I was overwhelmed with emotion. I sent him a message and I want to personally thank him for being there for my niece and nephew and ultimately my sister because he really helped save their lives,” said Bevnisha Holman, Winbush’s sister.
Munguia and Holman stayed in touch after the rescue, and Munguia says Winbush’s recovery is close to his heart because he knows her young children need her.
“It’s good to know that this is getting attention because we want Jonquetta to recover and people are praying for her and maybe getting her even more help after she recovers. That’s what’s really important to me,” Munguia said.
He even stopped by St. Elizabeth Hospital to check on her and her children, who returned to school on Monday.
