Etre hailed as hero for rescuing woman trapped in sinking car
Grafton Police and Fire at the scene of a car crash off Wheeler Road into the Quinsigamond River. PHOTO BY GRAFTON POLICE 
Chris Etre with his award from the Grafton Police Department. PHOTO BY JENNIFER PALUZZI 
Grafton Police Chief Normand Crepeau, Sgt. Michael Swift, state Sen. Michael Moore, Chris Etre, state Rep. David Muradian and Officer Thomas Michniewicz. PHOTO BY JENNIFER LORD PALUZZI
Chris Etre was in the right place at the right time the night of Dec. 13, 2019, when a car plunged into the icy Quinsigamond River.
Tuesday night, he was recognized for his heroism by Grafton Police, state Rep. David Muradian, state Sen. Michael Moore, and Gov. Charlie Baker.
“Without his rapid intervention, the outcome of this event would have been tragic,” Police Chief Normand Crepeau said at the Select Board meeting before presenting Etre with a plaque.
On the night of the accident, Etre leapt into the river and swam to the rapidly sinking car where a female passenger was trapped. He smashed the rear window with a wrench from his truck and pulled her to safety. When police arrived on the scene, the car had already sunk to the bottom of the river.
Etre was modest about the recognition, despite the presence of a Fox25 camera and a small crowd attending the meeting.
“I’m going to have to put in another wall just to hang all these,” he marveled.
