By Miles Layton
POMEROY, Ohio — A dramatic rescue effort unfolded Tuesday night after a vehicle struck a power pole, went over an embankment and crashed onto the ice-covered Ohio River, leaving one person dead and a 4-year-old child rescued from the partially submerged car. AMAZING STORY OF RESCUE — Gold star to first responders!
For folks who’ve never been to Pomeroy, it is a village on the banks of the Ohio River in Southeast Ohio – if you look closely on a map, Meigs County is where that unique bend in the river is. For many years, I worked for the Daily Sentinel and Athens Messenger, reporting on events in Meigs County. Story’s photo is one of many I have of Pomeroy and Meigs County.
Back to the rescue, that’s not been covered in any local print outlet — snowy and icy in that part of Ohio, very cold. According to a run report from the Pomeroy Fire Department, Station 1 was alerted at 8:42 p.m. on Tuesdaya, Feb. 10, to a motor vehicle accident on East Main Street. Pumper 1 and Truck 1 were already responding to a gas odor investigation on Mulberry Avenue when they were diverted to the crash scene.
Chief Derek Miller and Firefighter Dakota Rice arrived first and discovered the vehicle had struck a power pole, traveled over the embankment and come to rest about 20 feet out onto the ice-covered river. The motor compartment was submerged in the water while the rear of the vehicle was tilted up in the air.
Rice, a volunteer with the department, said he and his chief were the first on scene after it was reported around 8:40 p.m. He said the car was partially through the ice with its rear raised at first.
As Miller and Rice made their way out onto the ice to check for occupants, Rice fell through but was able to pull himself back out of the water. The two firefighters returned to shore briefly.
They then noticed a child at the rear of the vehicle and went back out onto the unstable ice. Rice said he grabbed the 4-year-old girl through the rear windshield, where the glass had been broken out. He said he believes the woman who had been driving may have been holding the child out toward him.
While holding the child, Rice said the ice beneath him began to give way. He said he threw the child toward the bank “as hard as he could” before falling through the ice again. His entire body was submerged.
According to the department’s report, as Rice handed the child off to Chief Miller, he fell through the ice a second time but was able to pull himself back out. Chief Miller rushed the child to shore, where Pomeroy Police Officer George Williams grabbed her and carried her up the embankment to receive medical care. Another firefighter then took the child to safety from there.
The child was transported to Nationwide Children’s Hospital with minor injuries. Rice said he later heard the child is expected to be okay.
After getting out of the water, Rice said that in what felt like less than a minute, the vehicle completely broke free of the ice and submerged into the river.
Chief Miller retrieved a rescue rope from Pumper 1’s crew and returned onto the ice in an attempt to rescue the other occupant. As he threw the rope into the vehicle, it broke free and sank. Miller jumped into the river and searched for the occupant but found nothing.
Both Miller and Rice were removed from the water and transported to Holzer ER, where they were monitored for hypothermia. They were released hours later with no injuries. Rice said he also went to the hospital Tuesday night.
Assistant Chief Tommy Werry assumed command of the scene and began coordinating a recovery operation with Assistant Chief Clay Crow. Multiple dive units from across the state were contacted. However, due to thick ice, darkness and sub-freezing water temperatures, recovery efforts were postponed until daylight.
The assistant fire chief said Wednesday morning that the vehicle remained in the river as crews awaited the arrival of a dive team from Columbus to determine whether the vehicle and body could be safely brought out. The section of the river where the vehicle went through the ice is estimated to be 25 to 30 feet deep.
On Feb. 11, Assistant Chief Crow organized a multi-agency recovery operation led by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team. Agencies involved included the District 2 Region 7 dive unit from Wellston, Meigs County EMA, Southeast Ohio Region Emergency Management Specialist, Syracuse Fire Department, Little Hocking Fire Department dive team, Ravenswood, West Virginia Fire Department dive team, Meigs County EMS, Pomeroy Police, Middleport Police, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, and the Amherst Tugboat “Andy Mullens,” among others.
At approximately 2 p.m., divers from Franklin County entered the icy water under adverse conditions in an attempt to locate the vehicle. By 5 p.m., thick ice had cleared sufficiently for Syracuse Fire Department to launch a boat and begin using sonar to pinpoint the vehicle’s location. Divers secured the vehicle to a tow truck cable, and it was removed from the water around 6:30 p.m.
Authorities have not released the name of the victim. There has been no word yet on what caused the initial crash that sent the vehicle off the roadway and into the river.
In a statement following the recovery, the department expressed condolences to the families of those involved and extended thanks to all agencies that assisted in what was described as a difficult, technical and dangerous recovery operation.
For additional information about the incident, officials directed inquiries to the Gallia Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
Last note, Meigs’ folks, if you have any news tips, reach out to mileslayton1969@gmail.com
