Apple’s Crash Detection feature has once again saved a life, this time aiding a Massachusetts man whose car flipped into a pool. On December 16, Easthampton resident Brent Hill was driving home when he felt nauseous behind the wheel. After losing consciousness, Hill’s car crashed into a neighbor’s pool and landed upside-down, leaving him trapped underwater.
Crash Detection to the Rescue
Unaware of the accident, Hill regained consciousness to the sound of his Apple Watch activating Crash Detection. The feature had automatically contacted emergency services and connected him with a responder, who coached him through the dire situation. Hill credits the watch with keeping him calm and ensuring help arrived quickly.
“If emergency services hadn’t contacted me through that watch and coached me, I wouldn’t have made it,” Hill admitted.
Neighbor’s Testimony
Security footage from a neighbor showed Hill’s car speeding into their garage before plunging into the pool. Elizabeth Laprade-Appelquist, the neighbor, praised the Apple Watch for its role in saving Hill’s life. She noted, “Emergency services were talking to him even as water was coming in. It was miraculous.”
A Track Record of Saving Lives
This incident is one of many where Apple’s Crash Detection has proven invaluable. In 2023, the feature helped a group in Germany after their car fell 60 feet below a guardrail. These examples highlight the life-saving potential of wearable technology during emergencies.
Tech Meets Real-World Impact
Apple’s continued innovation in safety features underscores its commitment to blending technology with practical solutions. For Hill, the Apple Watch was more than just a gadget—it became a lifeline.
As wearable technology evolves, stories like this remind us of its profound ability to protect lives in unexpected ways.
