ORLANDO, Fla. -- Five good Samaritans jumped into a retention pond near Walt Disney World and saved two children trapped in a sinking minivan.

Florida Highway Patrol troopers said a spare tire on a minivan carrying five people apparently blew out as the vehicle traveled westbound on U.S. Highway 192 Wednesday afternoon.

The out-of-control minivan then plunged into the water.

Ermarie Otereo, 24, and two passengers, Sulane Suero, 21, of Orlando, and Ivan Rivera, 6, of Kissimmee, were able to escape the submerged minivan, but Niomy Rivera, 3, of Kissimmee and Derek Rivera, of Kissimmee, were trapped underwater for at least seven minutes.

The good Samaritans noticed the sinking van and jumped in to rescue the children.

"For the quick reaction that these good Samaritans had, they saved these kids' lives," Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Kim Miller said. "It is anyone's worst nightmare. We know what can happen if kids are underwater."

"I screamed for a knife ... and I went in and cut up the seat belts on the car seat to get the baby out," rescuer Elliott Ramos said.

All of the occupants were taken to Florida Hospital Celebration Health. The 1-year-old and 3-year-old remain in critical condition at Florida Hospital South.

Troopers said car seats helped save the children.

"They could have been thrown underneath the floorboard or in the front seat and then time would have been wasted for those rescuers trying to find them."

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