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Published on Thursday December 26, 2002
in the Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
Ben Fargo held his breath and swam toward the headlights casting an eerie glow in the cold, muddy canal.
He smashed a window and pulled a mother and her young son out of the water with the help of a passer-by on a recent Friday night west of Lake Worth.
Fargo's quick reaction saved Julie Ware's life that Nov. 8 night. Tragically, though, her son, Alexander, 7, died despite Fargo's effort.
When he dove into the canal alongside Florida's Turnpike with his uniform on, the Florida Highway Patrol trooper knew exactly what to do -- he'd done the exact same thing twice before.
Fargo, 28, has been on the force for four years, but he has had a Turnpike canal rescue each year for the past three years. It's an unusual coincidence and a lucky break for some motorists who crash their cars into canals.
"I think the Lord puts us in positions to try to do as much good as possible," Fargo said. "For some reason, I'm always there."
Diving into a canal as deep as 15 feet to pull someone out of a submerged vehicle is dangerous enough. But rescuers in South Florida also have to contend with alligators, snakes and hazardous waste.
Troopers must swim with heavy bulletproof vests on, and struggle to cut seatbelts to free trapped drivers.
"When you get there before rescue does, you're the only sense of hope these people have," he said.
While he has saved lives, Fargo also has experienced the frustration of pulling a victim out of a submerged vehicle, only to learn they later died.
"It's frustrating. I had a hard time with that," Fargo said about the child who died last month. "I'm sure I'll live with that for the rest of my life."
The New Jersey native and former lifeguard joined the Highway Patrol's Troop K unit that patrols the Turnpike in 1999. In October the following year, he dove into a West Boynton Beach canal to rescue six people trapped in a Toyota 4-Runner that landed upside down on the opposite side of the canal, partially submerged in water.
Fargo happened to be working a detail at a nearby plaza when he heard the call over his radio. Knowing he was closest, he drove to the scene. He reached the victims on the opposite side of the canal. All survived, including an infant.
A year later, in June 2001, Fargo was first in the water when an Indian County man, 68, lost control of his 1999 Buick, slammed into a tree and plunged into a canal along the Turnpike west of West Palm Beach. Fargo broke out the window with the help of another man and searched unsuccessfully for the victim.
The man was in the back seat all along, but Fargo couldn't see him through the dark water. It wouldn't have mattered. An autopsy later showed he was killed on impact. Fargo was honored for his efforts about six months ago by the Palm Beach County Traffic Safety Committee.
And last month, Fargo was first on scene again when Ware, 42, of Pompano Beach, lost control of her 1993 Isuzu on the Turnpike and rolled over into the canal after being cut off by another vehicle. At the time, Fargo was working a nearby off-duty detail.
"It was the third time for him. It's like a drill for him now," said Highway Patrol Lt. Pat Santangelo.