FRANKLIN COUNTY, Ky. (LEX 18)– A family of four had to be rescued on New Year’s Eve after they got swept away by rushing water while driving in Frankfort.
It happened just before midnight on Snow Hill Road, which leads to Benson Creek.
Officials say the father managed to swim to shore to get help, while the mother and their two young children sat on the roof of the truck.
A neighbor, Robert Owens, was watching the local news at home when the man knocked on his door and said his family was trapped.
“Yeah he was soaked to the bone. I gave him a blanket I had there, and he wrapped himself up in the blanket. But still no shoes,” said Owens. “He actually went back to them too. He swam again. He said the water was so cold, he was about to shut down, you know, his body was about to shut down of hypothermia”
The biggest challenge for the Frankfort and Franklin County Fire Department crews was walking through the darkness to the creek, then simply finding the family.
“You know, swift water operations are very dangerous. They’re those low frequency, but high risk, scenarios that we get into,” said Chief Wayne Briscoe with Frankfort FD.
More than two hours after driving into the raging water, the family was taken to shore, then straight to a hospital as a precaution.
“Not the way we want to start the New Year, but thankfully nobody got hurt. Everybody’s home, and there was no injury to the family or rescuers,” said Chief Briscoe.
