February 24, 2022
By: Dwayne Page
A man trapped in his pickup truck near Dowelltown due to rising flood waters from Smith Fork Creek has the DeKalb County Swiftwater Rescue Task Force to thank for coming to his aid Thursday afternoon.
The man apparently tried to drive his pickup truck through the swift water on Alexandria to Dismal Road at the bridge over Smith Fork Creek, but it was swept off the road and into a ditch. After receiving the call for help, members of the DeKalb County Swiftwater Rescue Task Force responded along with others including the Sheriff’s Department and DeKalb EMS.
According to Smithville-DeKalb County Rescue Squad Captain Dusty Johnson, he and other members of the Swiftwater Rescue Task Force formed a human wedge as they walked through the flood waters to get to the man who was then carried from his truck to safety. Although not seriously injured, the man was transported by DeKalb EMS to the hospital.
Aside from training excises, Captain Johnson said this was the first actual emergency call for the Swiftwater Rescue Task Force since it was formed last year.
The task force, led by the Rescue Squad, also includes volunteers from the DeKalb County, Smithville and Alexandria Volunteer Fire Departments and others who are specially trained and equipped for swiftwater rescues.