911 caller: Mother was 'screaming bloody murder' after crash that killed 6-month-old

Authorities said Alyssa Maria Mattson, 19, was driving a 2003 Infinity at a “high rate of speed” with her 6-month-old baby in the car. Mattson , tried to pass another vehicle in a no-passing zone on Forestville Road when she lost control of the car, skidded off the road and crashed into a pond.

"There is a car that cleared a double lane, lost control of its car and went over the ditch," a caller told a 911 dispatcher.

Troopers said Mattson was able to get out of the car and swim to safety. The child, Princeton Marcus Mattson, was in a car seat and was submerged underwater.

He was taken to WakeMed but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Chief David Cates with Eastern Wake Fire and Rescue said first responders had a difficult time accessing the vehicle when they first arrived.

"It was apparently fairly deep, and trying to make efforts was a difficult task for them," he said.

Some firefighters went into the frigid water before their equipment arrived from the station. Authorities said eight Knightdale firefighters were treated at the scene for hypothermia.

"The treatment was more on site in a warming situation, nothing too significant. Nobody was transported to the hospital for that," Cates said.

Although no first responders sustained physical injuries, Cates said many will need emotional support after responding to the tragedy.

"It's certainly tragic. There are families who are hurt. There are emergency responders who are troubled with this, and we really need to support them and hopefully this won't happen again," he said.

Captain Christopher Miller with the Knightdale Fire Department was among the first to respond to the pond along Forestville Road.

Miller said the car was completely submerged, about 12 feet under water and 36 feet from the bank. He estimated the water temperature to be in the low 50s.

"The first splash took our breath," Miller said. "It was hitting home a little bit, let's do what we can and try to get this child out as soon as possible."

Miller used a long stick to locate the car.

"The water was so cold and so deep that it was hard for us to get down there and make access to the car," he said.

Rescuers stayed in the water for 10 minutes or more at a time. They had to pull the vehicle to the surface to finally get the child out.

Miller said many of the first responders have children of their own, and they're grieving the tragedy.

"We talk about it in our unique way," he said. "And in that way, it helps us cope and deal with it."

Several people called 911 to report the crash Wednesday night.

"So a lady came around the corner at the pond right here, and she slammed on the brakes, and I haven't gone down there yet, but she is screaming bloody murder," one caller told a 911 dispatcher. "I don't know what is going on, I'm scared to drive down there because it's a dangerous corner, but she is screaming. It looks like a couple of people have stopped now, but we definitely need somebody sent out here."