A freezing stretch of the Potomac turned a Falling Waters traffic stop into a near-tragedy Thursday evening, when a driver fleeing Berkeley County deputies jumped off a bridge and Deputy Merson followed him into the river to pull him out.
The dramatic rescue capped a short pursuit that started near I-81 in Falling Waters and ended with emergency crews treating the man for cold exposure on the riverbank.
How the chase ended
According to Tri-State Alert, Deputy Merson was already responding to an emergency call when he saw a pickup truck ignore a traffic control signal at the I-81 northbound Exit 23 ramp and initiated a pursuit along Route 11.
The fleeing vehicle then reportedly struck a southbound pickup on the Potomac River bridge. The driver jumped out, ran across the bridge, climbed the guardrail and leaped into the icy river in an apparent attempt to escape.
Tri-State Alert reports that Deputy Merson went to the C&O Canal boat access, entered the water, swam to the man and brought him back to shore. Emergency medical personnel treated the man at the scene for cold exposure before Washington County deputies took him into custody. He has been charged with felony fleeing with reckless indifference.
Why the Potomac is especially dangerous in cold weather
The National Weather Service warns that sudden immersion in cold water can trigger "cold shock" and a rapid loss of muscle control that can turn even a short swim into a life-threatening situation. The National Weather Service notes that cold-water immersion can incapacitate swimmers within minutes and that post-rescue collapse and hypothermia remain serious risks even after someone is pulled from the water.
Suspect's background and the sheriff's statement
Authorities identified the man as Edward Hardy Light. Tri-State Alert reported that Light had multiple active warrants through the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office at the time of the incident.
Local coverage earlier this winter said Light was one of two Gerrardstown men taken into custody after a January 29 standoff that brought a BCSD SWAT response, The River 95.3 reported.
Sheriff Robert "Rob" A. Blair praised Deputy Merson for shifting in an instant from pursuit to rescue, calling his actions a display of "the highest standards of law enforcement professionalism and courage," according to Tri-State Alert.
What comes next
Light remains in Washington County custody on Maryland charges and still has active warrants in Berkeley County. Officials say his arraignment and further processing will be handled in the appropriate county courts.
Authorities are asking anyone with additional information about the case to contact the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office or the Washington County Sheriff's Office.
