Five Teens Rescued from Flood Waters Near Kinmundy

BY BRUCE KROPP, WJBD RADIO

A Marion County Sheriff’s Deputy and a Kinmundy-Alma firefighter are being credited with risking their own lives to save five area teens who were clinging to trees after their pickup truck was carried into the flood waters east of Forbes State Park late Saturday night.

The five were attempting to cross a bridge over Skillet Fork Creek on Seavers Road nine miles southeast of Kinmundy when they realized they weren’t going to make it. The truck was swept off the road by the current into floodwaters as they were trying to back up.

The three men and two women all apparently escaped the quickly sinking truck through the windows. Four were able to grab onto two trees within 40 to 60 feet of the road. The fifth, who could not swim, traveled another 100 to 150 feet before he was able to grab onto a tree.

Assistant Fire Chief Brad Hawkey says one of the group had a phone that was able to call 911. The dispatcher Mike Anderson used the information from the broken signal to pinpoint their location and send help.

Sergeant Kevin Cripps who responded to the call had put two life jackets and some rope in his squad car before leaving for work Saturday due to the forecasted heavy rains. Cripps used his rope and the life jackets to lead the effort to reach the four closest to the road and pull them to safety against a swift current. He notes he felt the sunken truck with his feet while in chest deep water.

The effort to reach the fifth teen was more difficult because he was much further out in the water. All the available pieces of rope were tied together and Cripps and Kinmundy-Alma Fireman Trevor White started making their way through the water around several trees with the life jackets attached to the rope. Cripps stopped halfway to act as an anchor while White continued towards the teen who was able to get his leg between a branch in the tree to help hold on in the water as his grip weakened.

White said once he was able to get the rope and life jacket to the teen, he held onto one end of the rope as Cripps used the other to slowly work the man around several trees back up to the bank.

Hawkey called Cripps a hero in his books for having no problems bailing into a dangerous situation. Hawkey also commended White for assisting in the rescue. He notes the fire department had called for boats from several departments, but because of the swift current, he doesn’t think they would have helped. Hawkey felt they also had to move quickly before hypothermia set in.

Both White and Cripps downplayed their individual roles. Cripps said it was a ‘team effort’ and ‘God was with us’. He said without the others helping at the scene the rescue would not have been possible. Cripps also credited the work of Salem Police Dispatcher Anderson in giving them such good direction from the broken up 911 call. And for White, Cripps said he made a new friend he would trust with his life at any time.

Cripps said the two life jackets and rope will also find a permanent spot in his squad car.

While the five teens were cold after being in the water, none required hospital treatment.