The setting was the Pascagoula River, a wide, powerful waterway that carves its way through the Gulf Coast region, near a quiet area of the city used for boating and fishing.

It was late — around 2:30 a.m. — when a vehicle carrying three teenage girls unexpectedly barreled off a boat launch and into the river, instantly turning a peaceful night into a desperate struggle for survival.

In just minutes, a 16‑year‑old high school student standing nearby — Corion Evans — would show a level of self‑less bravery most adults could scarcely imagine. His quick thinking and fearless actions ultimately saved four lives amid powerful currents and near‑certain peril.The driver later told police she had been following her GPS and did not realize she was heading down the unlit ramp into the Pascagoula River. The lack of clear visual cues in the darkness contributed to the mistake, with the GPS indicating a continuation of road ahead where there was only water.