A Mississippi teenager was praised Tuesday night for his heroic efforts to save three teenage girls who fell into a river and a police officer who responded from drowning over the weekend. Corion Evans, 16, jumped into the Pascagoula River in Moss Point around 2:30 a.m. Sunday after seeing a car drive by the I-10 boat launch, the Moss Point Police Department said in a news release Wednesday . The teenage driver of the vehicle told police he was following her GPS and didn’t realize she was headed toward the water. After hitting the river, the vehicle floated about 20 feet and began to sink. The three teenage girls escaped on the roof of the sinking vehicle. Evans was already in the water helping when Officer Gary Mercer arrived on the scene and swam to the vehicle, police said. SIBERIAN HUSKY RESCUED FROM WATERS MORE THAN A MILE OFF THE NEW JERSEY SHORE Mercer said he was helping one of the victims to shore when she began to panic and made him go below and swallow some water. Evans helped bring Mercer the teenage victim safely to shore. Corion Evans, 16, was presented with Certificates of Commendation Tuesday by Moss Point Mayor Billy Knight after he helped save three teenage girls and a police officer from drowning in the Pascagoula River over the weekend. (Moss Point Police Department) “We commend Mr. Evans’ bravery and selflessness in risking his own safety to help people in danger,” said Moss Point Police Chief Brandon Ashley. “Had Mr Evans not helped, the situation could have turned out differently, rather than all on board being rescued safely.” Ashley said all parties involved are doing well. Moss Point Police Officer Garry Mercer was also commended for jumping into the Pascagoula River to save three teenage girls after their vehicle crashed and began to sink. (Moss Point Police Department) CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP On Tuesday night, Mayor Billy Knight and the city board presented Evans and Mercer with Certificates of Commendation. “We are proud of the young man who had the courage to forget himself and jump into the water,” Mayor Billy Knight told The Associated Press. “It’s not often enough that you see people putting others before themselves.”
