AJ Agnew and Landon Smith Rescue Man From Car in Pond
10/22/2025 5:52:00 PM | Men's Golf
At approximately 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, as Purdue University Fort Wayne men's golfers AJ Agnew and Landon Smith were driving to the Kroger store on St. Joe Center Road, they noticed a car driving erratically about 25 yards ahead in the oncoming lane.
"I looked at AJ, and he looked at me, and then AJ yelled, `Stop!'" Smith said. "I pulled over as soon as I could."
The oncoming vehicle first slowed as it cut across the opposite lane before speeding up to jump the curb and plow into a small pond near Sawmill Woods Boulevard.
"We saw it all unfold," Agnew said. "He's lucky he didn't get hit in the process or hit one of the trees near the pond."
As their car stopped, Agnew jumped out to sprint toward the accident, saying a quick prayer asking God to be with him.
"I had another thought of `No fear,'" Agnew said. "I told myself, `He is here,' and that brought a sense of calmness to the situation."
Agnew leaped into the pond where the water reached his neck. He grabbed the sinking car to twist it toward the bank, unable to immediately open the door to save the seemingly unconscious elderly driver because of the water pressure.
Looking back at Smith rushing to the pond, Agnew said he might need to find a rock to smash the window. Just then, the driver regained some awareness and unlocked the car.
Even for a college athlete, opening the door against the incoming water was difficult, but Agnew finally pulled hard enough to reach inside. With Smith helping, they dragged the man through the water to the nearby bank.
Smith tried reaching into the car to turn it off, but it was still in drive, and the water had risen over the headrest, so he was forced to give up. Two or three minutes later, police cars and rescue vehicles arrived, and EMTs started working on the driver. Though Agnew said he never felt cold during the rescue, he and Smith were shaking as they answered questions from the officers.
"I wouldn't say we were heroes, I think that's just what you are supposed to do in a situation like that, help out people when they need it," Smith said. "It was just by the grace of God that we were able to do that for that man. We were glad we could do it."
Agnew is a junior majoring in mechanical engineering, and Smith is a sophomore majoring in business. Though extremely proud of his players, PFW golf coach Billy King said he was not shocked by their actions.
"They are wonderful kids in the fact that they are always willing to help others and do everything I have asked them to do over the years with volunteering and representing Purdue Fort Wayne," King said. "They are good Christian young men who follow a faith they are proud of and are not afraid to share with others.
"Sometimes in today's world of college athletics, everything gets questioned because of the emphasis on performance, and sometimes everyone thinks that's the important part, but it's really, really not. It's the people involved."
Though their now filthy clothes were completely soaked, Smith and Agnew returned to PFW, saying it took about 90 minutes to warm up. Agnew changed in time to make his 1:30 class, and then the pair tried another trip to Kroger before Smith attended a later class.
"It was weird driving to the grocery store the second time," Smith said.
Both men denied they were heroes.
"We were just doing it because that is how we were born and raised," Agnew said. "If we see somebody in danger, we're going to rush to the cause to help out. I'm glad that we acted when we did, and I'm proud knowing the result instead of having to look back and saying, `What could we have done?'"
~ Feel the Rumble ~
Players Mentioned
