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Good Samaritans rescue 2 teens, infant from icy water

APPLE RIVER, Wis. -- Two teenagers and a 5-month-old baby were rescued from the Apple River in Wisconsin, after their vehicle left the road and broke through the ice.
Three people were rescued after a pickup truck plunged into the icy Apple River.

APPLE RIVER, Wis. -- Two teenagers and a 5-month-old baby were rescued from the Apple River in Wisconsin, after their vehicle left the road and broke through the ice.

According to authorities, the 19-year-old driver, identified as Nycole Stream, of Amery, Wis. was headed north on County Highway H around 3:45 p.m. on Dec. 23 when she lost control of the vehicle, left the road and went into the water.

Stream had two passengers in the vehicle -- 16-year-old Krystyna Walenczak, of Frederic, Wis. and 5-month-old Ayidden Stream.

Terry and Pamela Blegen, of Balsam Lake, were driving south on Highway H when they saw the vehicle splash into the water and then saw the pickup floating upside down in the water.

According to the Polk County Sheriff's Office, Pamela called 911 as Terry entered the water and tried to find the people inside the truck. As the vehicle began to sink, it turned onto the driver's side, leaving the passenger side window exposed. The window was broken in the crash and open.

Two others passing by the accident stopped to help -- identified as 40-year-old Thomas Cole of St. Croix Falls and 46-year-old Shawn Spafford, of Amery. Both joined Terry in the water and the three of them were able to rescue Stream and Walenczak, who were struggling to stay above the water. The three men then determined the small child was still submerged in the vehicle.

All three men continued to look for the boy until he was found and could be brought out of the water. The boy was initially unresponsive but was revived by rescuers.

All three occupants were transported to Amery Hospital. The boy was later transferred to Children's Hospital in St. Paul. According to the boy's mother, Nycole, her son is OK and at home recovering. No one suffered serious injuries in the crash.

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