New Bedford police officer, Dartmouth firefighter rescue man from submerged vehicle

Heroic efforts by New Bedford Police Capt. Dennis Ledo and Dartmouth Call Firefighter Peter Andrade saved a 24-year-man whose car went into the water off West Beach Friday and became submerged.

The man was driving south on West Rodney French Boulevard when, for reasons that are unknown at this time, his vehicle drove onto the sidewalk, onto a wall and into the water. Police received emergency calls immediately and were the first on scene.

Capt. Ledo and Firefighter Andrade went into the water, extricated the man from his vehicle and brought him to shore.

He was transported to St. Luke’s Hospital, where he is receiving medical treatment. The man was the sole occupant of the vehicle.

Capt. Ledo made the rescue 10 days after starting his new job as commander of Station 2, the south end station.

Call Firefighter Andrade also works for the Dartmouth Water Department.