Police officers without hesitation will go into dangerous situations to help save people. For one Illinois woman, when her brakes went out on her vehicle, it wasn’t just her she was worried about – it was the baby she was carrying.

A sheriff’s deputy in Williamson County received a call about a 20-year0old pregnant woman whose car was close to crashing into a lake after her brakes failed.

The drama unfolded in the early hours of the morning when 911 dispatchers received a frantic call from the woman. “I need help. My brakes won’t stop. My car won’t stop. My brakes aren’t working,” she said in the recorded call shared by the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office.

I’m 20 weeks pregnant. I cannot die today.”

Her car was traveling at about 30 miles per hour, and the dispatcher urged her to turn onto a nearby road to avoid the lake ahead. Overwhelmed with fear, the woman replied, “I can’t. I’m scared.” Deputies raced to intercept the car near Carterville. Deputy Tyler Coffey was among them and quickly sprang into action. “Her brake lights were illuminating, and she was not slowing down,” he later recalled.

Police check on a pregnant woman after stopping her out of control car. Photo by Williamson County Sheriff’s Department

Using a rolling roadblock maneuver, Coffey positioned his patrol car in front of the woman’s vehicle. Gently, he applied his brakes until her car’s bumper made contact with his, bringing both vehicles to a stop just in time. “Had the deputy not been on scene or delayed performing this maneuver, the driver and vehicle would have likely gone into the water,” Sheriff Jeff Diederich said.

Dash camera footage and audio from the 911 call captured the heart-stopping rescue, showcasing the teamwork between the dispatcher and deputies. After ensuring the vehicle was in park and the woman was safe, Coffey downplayed his heroics despite the praise he received. “I’ve been getting that a lot,” he said. “I appreciate the comments, but we’re all heroes — everybody from the dispatchers down to the deputies. Everybody worked together and made this a safe incident.”

Deputy Tyler Coffey discusses the pregnant woman’s out of control car. Photo courtesy of Williamson County Sheriff’s Office

The woman, her dog, and the deputies all emerged unharmed, with only minor damage to the patrol car. Coffey reflected on the urgency of the situation, especially given the proximity to the lake and the cold temperatures that night. “My main concern was safely getting it stopped to avoid her ending up in the lake,” he said.

The sheriff’s office celebrated the successful rescue as a testament to the training and dedication of its team. For Coffey, it was simply about doing his job. “I’m just very happy that myself and the other deputies were able to get that car stopped,” he said.

Sources: People | Good Morning America