Power company linemen usually perform their jobs well above the ground. But two crews working in Macon County last week found themselves making a water rescue.
Crews from Sumter Utilities, a contractor for Duke Energy, were working on Middle Burningtown Road the morning of Feb. 7 when lineman Logan Brown heard a loud noise and then the sound of a car horn. He could not tell from what direction the sound came from and began walking down a steep embankment when he saw a car upside down in a creek. He looked inside the car and saw a man trapped inside.
Brown went back to his vehicle and radioed for assistance from other crew members on site. They did not have cell service in the area, so another crew member drove from the scene to call 911.
The Sumter Utilities workers waded into waist deep, freezing water and tried to shake the vehicle in an attempt to get the car door open, according to Mark Martines, vice president of operations for Sumter Utilities. They were able to partially open one door, and crew member Johnathan Cunningham entered the car and held the driver’s head above water, which was quickly entering the car.
Other members of the crew brought a utility line truck to the scene. Martines said they connected the winch line and nylon straps to the front wheels of the car and were able to partially life it from the water so they could open a door. Crew members cut the driver’s seat belt and removed him from the vehicle. “Prior to any movement of the driver, it was confirmed that he did not have debilitating injuries,” Martines said.
The driver was placed in a Sumter Utilities truck to warm up until emergency workers arrived.
“Great job and many thanks to the line workers for their quick thinking and quick response in helping someone in distress,” said Martines.
Burningtown-Iotla Fire & Rescue were called to the scene to assist. “The car was under the bridge, upside down and the cab was fully submerged,” said Fire Chief Matt Norton.
He said they assessed the driver who had no complaints and refused transport by Macon County EMS.
Norton said the fire department assisted Franklin Paint and Body in hooking the car to the tow truck and pulling it from the creek.
The fire chief said they appreciate what the utility workers did. “They’re not first responders, but their quick actions saved that man’s life.”
According to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol report, the driver was traveling west on Burningtown Road when the car traveled off the right side of the road, down an embankment, striking rocks and shrubs. The car land on its top facing west in the creek.
“They really did a good deed,” Trooper J.D. Gass said of the utility workers. “It could have been a lot worse.”
No charges were filed in the incident.