Employees of a martial arts school in Fenton, Missouri, became unexpected heroes after rushing to the aid of a mother and her twin eight-month-old babies following a dramatic rollover crash. Their quick thinking and specialized training helped ensure the family’s safety.
The crash occurred when a car, involved in a police pursuit led by the DEA and Homeland Security, struck the woman’s vehicle on Interstate 44. Surveillance footage captured the terrifying moment as her car flipped multiple times, crashed through a fence, and landed in front of Xtreme Krav Maga & Fitness.
Dustin Pluth, a manager at the martial arts business, recalled the shocking scene. “All of a sudden, I heard screeching and a crash. My coworker, Lindsay, said, ‘Oh, that’s not good.’” Acting on instinct, Pluth immediately ran outside.
“As soon as I saw the car rolling and coming to a stop, I ran up and found a mom and two babies inside,” he said. Without hesitation, Pluth cut the mother’s seatbelt and helped her out before carefully pulling the babies to safety through the sunroof. Meanwhile, fellow employee Lindsay Cross comforted the shaken mother and brought the family inside to get warm.
Understandably, the mother was in shock. “She was terrified—not only from the crash but from the fear of not knowing if her babies were okay,” Pluth shared.
The staff at Xtreme Krav Maga & Fitness are well-trained in self-defense, martial arts, and medical response, including trauma-one classes that teach first-aid and emergency rescue techniques. Pluth credits this training for their ability to act quickly and effectively.
“Thankfully, everyone walked away with only minor injuries, but it could have been much worse,” he said. “As a parent, the thought of children being hurt is terrifying. It truly feels like a Christmas miracle that they made it out safely.”
The Missouri State Highway Patrol confirmed that several suspects were taken into custody following the high-speed pursuit. As for the rescued family, they are recovering well—thanks to the bravery and kindness of the martial arts instructors who were in the right place at the right time.