Sixteen-year-old Corion Evans heroically saved four lives when a car plunged into the Pascagoula River in Moss Point, Mississippi, on July 3, 2022. The dramatic incident unfolded in the early morning hours, turning a routine drive into a life-threatening emergency that showcased the bravery of a local teenager.
Around 2:30 a.m., three teenage girls were driving, guided by their GPS navigation system, when disaster struck. The driver later told police she didn’t realize she was approaching water as the GPS directed her off the Interstate 10 boat launch and straight into the Pascagoula River. The vehicle floated about 20 feet from shore before it began sinking rapidly. The girls managed to escape the car and climbed onto its roof as it submerged, with only a small portion remaining above water.
When he witnessed the accident, Corion Evans, a Pascagoula High School student and football player, walked along the river with friends.
“They drove straight under the water. Like, only a little bit of the car was still above the water,”
Evans recalled. Without a second thought, he leapt into action.
“I was just like, ‘I can’t let none of these folks die. They need to get out the water,”
“So, I just started getting them. I wasn’t even thinking about nothing else.”
A strong swimmer since age three, Evans quickly shed his shoes, shirt, and phone before diving into the river. He swam to the sinking car and began assisting the girls to safety.
“I was behind them trying to keep them above water and swim with them at the same time,”
He explained.
The rescue took a critical turn when Moss Point Police Officer Gary Mercer arrived and entered the water to help. While aiding one of the girls to shore, she panicked, pulling Officer Mercer underwater. Weighed down by his police gear and struggling with the victim, he began to drown. Evans spotted the danger immediately.
“I turned around. I see the police officer. He’s drowning. He’s going underwater, drowning, saying, ‘Help!'” Evans recounted. “So, I went over there. I went and I grabbed the police officer and I’m like swimming him back until I feel myself I can walk.”
Evans swam back and forth, exhausting four to five minutes, ensuring all three girls and Officer Mercer reached the shore safely.
Evans’ selfless actions earned widespread praise. Moss Point Police Chief Brandon Ashley commended him, stating,
“We commend Mr. Evans’ bravery and selflessness he displayed by risking his own safety to help people in danger. If Mr. Evans had not assisted, it could have possibly turned out tragically instead of all occupants rescued safely.”
On July 5, 2022, Evans and Officer Mercer received Certificates of Commendation from Moss Point Mayor Billy Knight and the Board of Aldermen during a city meeting.
“We are proud of the young man for having the courage to forget about himself and jump into the water,”
Mayor Knight told The Associated Press.
“It’s not often enough that you see people put others above themselves.”
The accolades didn’t stop there. In February 2023, Evans was named an American Red Cross National Hero honoree. He traveled to New York to receive his Heroes Among Us Gala medal, recognizing his extraordinary courage in saving four lives.
All four individuals rescued—three girls and Officer Mercer—were taken to the hospital and fully recovered. One survivor, Cora Watson, expressed her gratitude on social media:
“This man right here saved my life right before my last breath. I’m so thankful.”
The incident highlighted the dangers of GPS navigation near waterways. Police noted the system misidentified the car’s position, showing it on a raised highway when the girls had started in a parking lot beneath it, underscoring the need for water safety awareness.
Corion Evans, a senior at Pascagoula High School, was a wide receiver on the football team. Standing 6 feet tall and weighing 155 pounds, he excelled in his 2022 senior season, recording over 100 receiving yards and a fumble recovery on defense. His mother, Marquita Evans, beamed with pride:
“I’m glad nothing happened to him while he was trying to save other people’s lives. I was really proud of Corion because he wasn’t just thinking about himself; he was trying to really get all those people out the water.”