Jacksonville Mother and Three Children Survive I-95 Rollover Into Water-Filled Ditch on Christmas Day

Crash on I-95 in Volusia County sends vehicle into water as bystanders and deputies help family

A Jacksonville mother and her three children survived a major crash on Interstate 95 in Volusia County on Christmas Day after their vehicle left the roadway, struck a pole, rolled and came to rest in a ditch filled with water.

The crash occurred on the southbound lanes of I-95 near Ormond Beach. Officials said the vehicle ended up in roughly three feet of water. The mother, identified as Ayanna Montes, and her children were removed from the vehicle and transported to a hospital for evaluation and treatment.

Driver described a sudden loss of control before the rollover

In interviews after the crash, Montes said she was driving to Kissimmee with her children and a car loaded with Christmas gifts when the vehicle became difficult to control. She said the steering wheel and brakes locked, and the vehicle moved from the left lane before striking a metal pole. She described the car rolling multiple times before landing in a pond-like, water-filled area adjacent to the highway.

Montes said she believes the immediate actions of people who stopped on the highway helped save her family.

Good Samaritans helped before first responders arrived

Montes said several bystanders stopped and assisted in getting the children out of the vehicle and helping the family in the moments after the crash. She described the group providing towels, calming the children and helping her reach safety as they waited for emergency crews to arrive.

Separately, sheriff’s office body-camera video documented deputies and other responders forming a human chain from the crash site toward dry ground. The footage showed efforts continuing after the family had been removed, including attempts to recover personal belongings and Christmas gifts from the waterlogged vehicle.

Firefighters used a ladder to salvage items from the submerged vehicle

After the mother and children had been taken for medical care, firefighters returned to the ditch and used a ladder to access the vehicle and retrieve as many items as possible from inside. Officials said the salvage effort focused on recovering gifts and other property from the partially submerged car.

What is known, and what remains unclear

• The vehicle left I-95, struck a pole and rolled into a water-filled ditch in Volusia County on Christmas Day.
• The driver and three children survived and were taken to a hospital.
• Bystanders and deputies assisted at the scene, and responders later recovered items from the submerged vehicle.

Authorities have not released additional verified details in the public record about the underlying mechanical issue described by the driver, nor have they announced any enforcement action stemming from the crash. The incident drew attention to the role of bystanders and rapid on-scene assistance in highway emergencies, particularly when vehicles come to rest in water and occupants must be moved quickly to safety.