Man Pulls 3 Children From Truck in Lake

A Sun Valley man rescued three children from Lake Piru when the truck they were sitting in rolled down a steep hill into a swimming area and sank below the surface, authorities said.

The children, two 3-year-olds and a 10-year-old, were uninjured, authorities said. The mother and grandmother of two children were taken to a Newhall hospital for cuts they suffered, while trying to stop the truck.

The incident occurred shortly before 5 p.m., as the children, two girls and a boy, were sitting inside the truck’s cab. The vehicle was unlocked, the windows were down and one door was open, authorities said.

The truck’s brake disengaged and the vehicle began rolling down a dirt embankment toward a swimming area at the north end of the lake, authorities said.

Several family members tried to stop the vehicle as it went by, authorities said. Bystander Antonio Landeros dove into the water and pulled the children from the cab, authorities said.

Ventura County Fire Capt. Kenny Kappen said he plans to nominate Landeros for a department award to honor his actions.