iPhone and Apple Watch Emergency SOS feature save woman, child after collision

After a horrifying collision with a drunk driver at a stoplight, a woman saved her life by calling for help with her Apple Watch with its SOS feature.

Kacie Anderson was stopped at a red light in late 2017 when her car was hit from the rear by a drunk driver. The car was launched by the force of the crash, and the occupants were buffeted until the vehicle came to a stop.

"The moment he hit us everything inside the car went airborne. My face took a horrible blow to the steering wheel, headrest, back to the steering wheel, and then to the window. I blacked out for about a minute and could not see. My eyes were wide open but all I saw was black," Anderson told Shape on Friday. "My hands flew around to feel for my phone and then I realized I had my watch on and commanded it to call 911."

The child in the car had only minor bruising and scrapes, presumably protected by the car seat. After extraction by paramedics, Anderson was discovered to have a severe concussion, brain swelling, and bulging disks from the accident — with repercussions from the accident still being dealt with.

Apple's watchOS 3 brought with it the Emergency SOS feature. Anderson probably invoked it by holding the side button for six seconds, which then attempts to call emergency services either through the wireless connection on a Series 3 Apple Watch with LTE, or through a linked iPhone.

28 Comments

techguy911 269 comments · 13 Years

About 6 years ago

Great Apple Watch success story. Although I'm sure other nearby drivers would have also called 911 given the severity of the accident and injuries of occupants.

[Deleted User] 0 comments · 11 Years

Excellent use of apple watch and Siri. Surprised she hit the steering wheel though - surely an airbag would have went off in such a new car (Nissan Rogue/Qashqai) and the seatbelt would have tightened instantly (was she wearing one?). Airbags are not only for frontal impacts, I remember my old 2003 Renault Laguna deploying various airbags including the steering wheel when I was hit from the side.

seanismorris 1624 comments · 8 Years

adm1 said:

Excellent use of apple watch and Siri. Surprised she hit the steering wheel though - surely an airbag would have went off in such a new car (Nissan Rogue/Qashqai) and the seatbelt would have tightened instantly (was she wearing one?). Airbags are not only for frontal impacts, I remember my old 2003 Renault Laguna deploying various airbags including the steering wheel when I was hit from the side.

We’re missing something... she probably wasn’t wearing her seatbelt.

king editor the grate 662 comments · 15 Years

"Watch, I command thee!"

wanderso 116 comments · 15 Years

adm1 said:

Excellent use of apple watch and Siri. Surprised she hit the steering wheel though - surely an airbag would have went off in such a new car (Nissan Rogue/Qashqai) and the seatbelt would have tightened instantly (was she wearing one?). Airbags are not only for frontal impacts, I remember my old 2003 Renault Laguna deploying various airbags including the steering wheel when I was hit from the side.

Airbags don't always deploy. It depends on the sensors that are tripped and other factors. I was hit in a severe side impact in a 2008 Jeep with front and side impact airbags. None of them deployed. Upon independent investigation that I required, the sensors were not tripped and it was deemed that it worked properly as designed. In my case the force of the impact pushed me against the door, resulting in significant bruising and neck injury. My son broke his finger and my daughter had back injury. All of us were wearing seat belts and we weren't moving at the time when the driver hit us by running a red light at full traffic speed.