Man Rescued From Car In The Ohio River

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On August 22, 2019 at approximately 3:33 p.m. Officers received a call from dispatch in reference to a vehicle in the water located at the boat ramp, 201 East Vaughn Drive, in the City of Madison, County of Jefferson.

Upon arrival, Officers witnessed a fully submerged vehicle approximately 30ft from the shoreline. Witnesses advised there was a male subject still inside the vehicle. Detective Ricky Harris, Patrolman Brad Demaree, Patrolman Zackery Nicholson, and Patrolman Joseph Gibson began removing their gear to enter the waterway, while Detective Kyle Cutshaw and Senior. Patrolman Dylan Barnes began creating a life line for the officers which included Patrolman Demaree’s K-9 leash, a rope from his own vehicle, and straps from Jefferson County Detective Yancy Dennings vehicle. Detective Harris and Patrolman Demaree swam to the submerged vehicle with Patrolman Nicholson and Patrolman Gibson entering the water for life line/extraction support. Detective Harris and Patrolman Demaree located a male in the driver’s seat of the vehicle. They had to remove the male’s seatbelt, and quickly removed the male driver through the driver’s side window of the vehicle. The male who was unresponsive upon removal from the vehicle, was quickly swam to the shoreline by officers and the Fire Station 4 Captain James Thomas who arrived on scene and entered the water to assist officers. The male was immediately given CPR, and loaded into an ambulance where he was treated by medical personnel. Patrolman Demaree and Detective Harris entered the waterway once again to do a secondary sweep of the vehicle to ensure no one else remained inside. Officers were informed that EMS was able to get a pulse on the male subject prior to leaving the scene.

Senior Patrolman Dylan Barnes spoke with a male witness who advised that he was traveling on Vaughn drive when he noticed a vehicle at the boat ramp partially in the water. The male advised he exited his vehicle and ran towards the water in an attempt to help. He advised by the time he made it to the vehicle, it was already out into the waterway. He advised that he witnessed one male inside the vehicle as it was filling with water, and he began yelling for the male to get out of the vehicle. He advised the male yelled back- “Leave me alone”. He advised the male was fully submerged for approximately 1 minute or so prior to officers entering the Ohio River.

Stanley’s Towing arrived on scene and removed the vehicle from the waterway.

At the time of this release the last known condition of the male subject was stable, he had been transported by ground ambulance to a hospital in Louisville Kentucky.

The Madison Police Department wish the male subject the best for a quick recovery and hope that he gets the help/assistance that he needs.