Teen Hero Leaps Into River to Save Strangers After GPS Sends Car Into Water
Moss Point, Mississippi — In the early hours of the morning, a routine drive became a life-or-death emergency when a GPS navigation system allegedly directed a vehicle off the I-10 boat launch and into the Pascagoula River. What happened next turned a local teenager into a hero.
According to accounts reported by WLOX, 16-year-old Corion Evans was nearby when he saw the car disappear into the water around 2:30 a.m.
“They drove straight under the water. Like, only a little bit of the car was still above the water,” Evans told WLOX.
Without hesitation, Evans kicked off his shoes, removed his shirt and phone, and jumped into the river. His friend, Karon “KJ” Bradley, followed him into the dark water. Together, they reached the sinking vehicle and began pulling the trapped occupants to safety.
A Dangerous Swim
The three girls inside the car were frightened and struggling as the vehicle filled with water. Evans and Bradley helped them climb onto the roof before swimming them back toward shore one by one.
“Twenty-five yards out, so it was a lot of swimming. My legs were so tired after. Anything could’ve been in that water, though. But I wasn’t thinking about it,” Evans said.
The rescue could easily have ended there, but the night had one more crisis in store.
Saving a Rescuer
When Moss Point Police Officer Gary Mercer arrived, he removed his gear and entered the river to assist. During the rescue, one of the panicked occupants grabbed him, pulling him underwater. Mercer began struggling to stay afloat.
“I see the police officer. He’s drowning. He’s going underwater, drowning, saying, ‘Help!'” Evans recalled.
Evans turned back into the river, reached the officer, and pulled him toward shore until the water became shallow enough to stand.
“So, I went over there. I grabbed the police officer and I’m swimming him back until I feel myself I can walk.”
A Community Responds
One of the rescued passengers, Cora Watson, later wrote on Facebook:
“He saved my life right before my last breath.”
Moss Point Police Chief Brandon Ashley praised the teenager’s actions.
“If Mr. Evans had not assisted, it could have possibly turned out tragically instead of all occupants rescued safely.”
In recognition of his bravery, Mayor Billy Knight presented Evans with a Certificate of Commendation on behalf of the city.
The Teen Behind the Headlines
Corion Evans
16 years old • Pascagoula High School football player
At just 16 years old, Evans was already known as a member of the Pascagoula High School football team. After that night, he became known for something far bigger: risking his own life to save complete strangers.
His story has resonated far beyond Mississippi, serving as a reminder that heroism often arrives without warning. On a dark riverbank in the middle of the night, a teenager saw people in danger and chose to act. Because he did, everyone made it home alive.
