A car just slid into the river - two people trapped

[cmd]

New Philadelphia, Ohio. Car fully submerged. Other people in the water trying to save them.
Can't get windows down. Contacted 911 by cell. Dive team responding.

[cmd]

1. 4 departments responding with boats

We lost a woman and her two children in the same spot on the river a few years ago. This is the first snow of any significance this year. I can't imagine the terror of being in that car.

[wildhorses]

2. holy moses--keep us posted

:wow: hope everything turns out okay

[cmd]

3. Just calling for boats right now

Barracading the streets. The river is high from all the rain and will be running swiftly.

[wildhorses]

4. it is a dangerous situation for everyone involved

got my fingers crossed--

[nytemare]

5. These little hammers are a great investment to have in your car.

You never know when something such as this will happen.



I hope those people get out ok. That is scary.

[cmd]

7. We have nail punches in our cars

My husband is a retired firefighter. He has seen this before. Swiftwater teams are now enroute as well as a big wrecker with lots of cable. The access is poor for a rescue there. They have been submerged for ten minutes and the car has not yet been found.

[nytemare]

9. That is awful.

Really doesn't sound good.

:(

[BikeWriter]

27. I keep a Buck Folding Hunter on my belt for such things...

Okay, so I've also used it as brass knuckles in fights. :shrug:

[momophile]

34. what are these hammers called?

what should I look up?

[krispos42]

45. Ace Hardware has them

One particular brand (shown above) is called "Lifehammer". It has two pointy metal tips to shatter glass and a seatbelt cutting tool built into the handle.

http://www.lifehammer.com/

I personally have a 19" piece of 30mm diameter, 8mm wall thickness stainless steel pipe with friction tape on one end next to my front seat. Heavy, about two pounds or so. I use it as a 'breaker bar', ostensibly to help loosen lug nuts. However, it can, if required, also break other things. Like glass. Or skulls.

Having said that, however, I should note that it won't break seatbelts. And it is not really secured in my car, so a collision could sent it flying out of reach.

The Lifehammer comes in a holder that you can screw or stick to the inside of the car. I would say get two and put one on each side of the car. This way if you're knocked out your passenger can save you.

[GenDem]

6. This can be a deadly situation for the rescuers, too.

With water temps low hypothermia is a very strong possibility. Sending prayers out.

[Omphaloskepsis]

8. I can't imagine a city sponsored team coming close to getting them out in time..

I'm sure it is a recovery operation by now.

[cmd]

10. I think you are right.

Divers are in the water. Two boats are finally in the water. Traffic in the area is holding up rescuers. I hope no one else gets hurt.

[cmd]

11. Traffic is a huge problem

People with cameras, news teams, curious dunderheads. Now two cold water dive teams coming in from other counties. The car has not yet been located.

[cmd]

12. They have the car

and are asking for blankets to shield the scene.

[wildhorses]

13. are they alive?

[lizziegrace]

16. If they're asking for blankets to sheild the scene

they're not likely to be alive. :(

[SPKrazy]

20. Or They Could Be

taking them out of their wet clothes and getting them warm ones, and treating hypothermia.

I'm being optimistic here because I fear you are right lizzie

:-(

[auntAgonist]

14. this is awful :(

My heart goes out to all involved and to all who will be involved :(


aA

[lizziegrace]

15. Is this on tv

or are you listening to a scanner? It's frightening. I have 3 routes I can use to get from Columbus to my house. Two parallel the rivers, one doesn't. I went the safe route this morning. The roads were miserable.

:(

[auntAgonist]

17. I'm glad you took the safe route Lizziegrace.

:hug:

stay safe!

aA

[SPKrazy]

19. I Second That!

geez

roads must be slick

sad, very sad

I hope the people are okay

waiting for the next update is well, weird to me, but I am.

[cmd]

21. I'm listening on the scannner.

Glad you took the safe route.

[skygazer]

18. Oh, that's so horrifying

The most dreadful thing I've ever heard is the tape of a 911 call made by a woman whose car went off the road into a canal. The 911 operator had no idea what to tell her to do to escape, she couldn't get the windows or the door open, the water was rising and she wasn't sure exactly where on the road she was.

The last thing you heard was her screaming, "Oh, my god!" and the sound of rushing water. :cry:

Gave me nightmares for weeks.

[Omphaloskepsis]

22. A MythBusters episode deals with this exact issue.

It airs on Wednesday. I would bet some helpful hints for surviving this type of thing can be gathered from the show. It might be worth watching.

[WritersBlock]

24. "Surviving a Submerging Car" video link

"Surviving a Submerging Car" from the Florida Highway Patrol website:


http://www.fhp.state.fl.us/videos/





edit: post subject

[lizziegrace]

37. Thanks for posting this.

Lelapin and I talked about what to do while I was taking her back to the dorm. She's a relatively new driver.

I showed her where the hammer is to break the window and how the same tool will slice the seatbelt.

Any chance to give her the information that could save her life. :hug:

[WritersBlock]

49. May she never need to use the knowledge.

:hug:

[cmd]

23. I'm certain they are gone

The teams are working now to get the car out of the river and shielding the scene from bystanders. There are a lot of people there who are sure they know who in in the vehicle. It may be as long a two
hours before they get the car out. I have to leave, but will update you again when I return. Let's all hope the recovery goes safely and send our thoughts out to the families of the victims.

[wildhorses]

25. thanks for the update

my prayers to all involved:hug:

[RFKHumphreyObama]

26. My worst nightmare scenario -one that I actively fear

My thoughts and prayers go out to those trapped in the car and their families

[lizziegrace]

28. Terrified of water too?

:scared:

I've been all my life.

[Arugula Latte]

29. That is horrifying.

Once again it illustrates how life can be here one minute and gone the next. :cry:

[cmd]

30. Two young women were in the car

Possibly teenagers. Their bodies have been recovered. The safety forces have been busy all day responding to accidents. Be careful if you are on the road tonight.

[momophile]

31. absolutely dreadful

sounds like one of the worst ways to go, imo. the thought of this happening to me while my baby is in the back seat makes me want to cry.

[SeattleGirl]

32. Oh God, that is so sad.

My heart goes out to the families. :cry:

[lizziegrace]

33. It's only going to get worse in Ohio

tonight and tomorrow. I spun out on the rural highway where I live. Fortunately, I just missed a mailbox and a ditch. I've been driving on snow and ice for years. I'm proof an accident can happen to anyone.

I'm so sorry for the families of the victims. May they find the strength to get through this. What a horrible way to lose a loved one. :(

[SPKrazy]

35. Be careful lizziegrace!

this sad accident in this thread is terrible

don't want anything to happen to you, so drive careful and stay warm

:hug:

[lizziegrace]

36. I will

and thank you. Lelapin will be jumpy for weeks now. (She was in the car...)

It's so easy to lose control of a one ton (or is it two?) weapon. In just a blink you can hydroplane, hit ice, go off the shoulder. Life is precious and fragile and can change in an instant.

:hug:

[SPKrazy]

38. Yes It Can

and a vehicle can seem so invincible when you are in it until you lose control like that.

:hug:

[TheFriendlyAnarchist]

40. It's pretty much just a big mess down here too. Cars are off the road everywhere

Thankfully, freeways are getting cleared up, but neighborhood roads are still completely fucked.
Good to hear your alright :hug:

[lizziegrace]

41. Thanks!

Tell your mom :hi: for me.

:hug:

[momophile]

39. PSA!

Lifehammer Emergency Hammer only $14.95 on Amazon. And it qualifies for free shipping on orders over $25 (for those of us who only order over $25 on Amazon at a time).

I just ordered one.

[lizziegrace]

42. Good to know

and even better to have.

:)

[momophile]

43. better order one up, girl, from the sounds of it

and get one for the daughter too. does she drive?

[lizziegrace]

44. I have one

It's on my side of the car. I'm thinking about getting one for the passenger side. When she drives, she uses my car.

;)

[cmd]

46. And now a more tragic update

The car has not been found. I don't know what they recovered earlier in the day; but it was not the car with the girls in it. Search efforts have been called off to tonight. It's too dangerous to
keep looking.

[wildhorses]

47. all hope is lost

:cry:








thanks for the update:hug:

[lizziegrace]

48. That's terrible!

:(