State trooper, Campbell official pull man from frigid creek after crash

Both Trooper Dwight Braswell and Scott Asbill, associate dean of academic affairs at Campbell's College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, were driving their children to school when they spotted a car upside-down in a creek along U.S. Highway 301.

Jarrell Booker, 20, had fallen asleep on his way home from work, and his car drifted off the highway to the right, according to the Highway Patrol. He then over corrected, crossed the center line and ran off the road left into the water, where the car overturned.

"The car was totally submerged, and all you could see were four tires in the air," Braswell said. "It was like out of a movie."

"I was chest deep into the creek. You couldn’t see anything inside of there," said Asbill, who waded into the water in a suit and tie.

He said Booker was terrified, calling out, "Please don’t leave me. Please help me." So, he tried to calm him as he worked to get him out.

"I reached down with my left hand into the water, feeling for the door handle, and just out of luck, I grabbed it. And I was like, 'Lord, please let it open,' and when I pulled, the door came open."

"My whole objective was, once we realized someone was in there, trying to get the door open and get him out," Braswell said. "It felt like we were in the water longer than we were. He was scared to death, too."

Even though Asbill once worked as a volunteer firefighter, he said he gained confidence in the water when Braswell told him, "I got your back man. You don’t have to worry about nothing."

"I reached in for the young man, and at the same time, it was almost surreal, he just came out of the water, and he reached out for me, almost like jumped into my arms," Asbill said. "He was so tired. You could tell he was very cold, in shock."

Booker was taken to WakeMed in Raleigh for treatment of hypothermia and was released Monday afternoon.

Asbill said eight to 10 people were on the creek bank and helped pull Booker and him from the water.

"To look up and see a chain of people, men and women, that are holding hands to help this young man was just incredible," he said. "It just reminds me that the world is full of great people who will help."

Both Braswell and Asbill deflected suggestions they were heroes and saved Booker's life.

"The way I look at it, the good Lord had me in the right place to try and help somebody," Braswell said.

"A lot of folks were chipping in to help this young man," Asbill said. "I don’t think I saved anyone’s life, frankly. I think the good Lord saved his life, to be honest with you."

Booker was charged with careless and reckless driving.