Indiana Conservation officer's quick thinking helps save three people

ICO Chris Springstun

REELSVILLE --Indiana Conservation Officers are trained for situations involving swift-moving water. It was not more evident early Friday morning when an officer's quick thinking helped save the lives of three people.

ICO Chris Springstun, a four-year veteran of the department and assigned to Putnam County was busy responding to water related emergencies when at approximately 3:30 a.m., he was dispatched to the area of Jackie Dunn Road and Deer Creek in Reelsville.

A vehicle was stalled in the water from Deer Creek, which had surpassed its banks and was quickly rising above Jackie Dunn Road.

Springstun was informed that two subjects were trapped on the roof of their vehicle and the water was rising fast.

By the time Springstun arrived on scene, the water had nearly reached the roof of the vehicle. Springstun quickly realized that completing a boat-based rescue was not possible due to the vehicle location and water conditions. That is where Springstun's training kicked in.

Springstun, a member of the Indiana Conservation Officers dive team, quickly donned his dry suit, swift water vest and grabbed a rope bag. With the assistance of a Putnam County deputy they were able to reach an area where Springstun was able to secure one end of the rope to a tree.

Sprinstun then entered the water and swam to the vehicle, securing the other end of the rope to the trunk. This created a static line that Springstun used to remove both subjects from the water and back to safety.

The subjects, Ashley Johnson, 26 and Lance Morrison, 26 both of Cloverdale, were treated at the scene for hypothermia and released.

Upon completion of the rescue, Springstun was then informed that a volunteer firefighter's truck was washed off the road while responding to the scene. Springstun and other first responders quickly located the truck that had been pushed over on its side from the force of the fast- moving water.

Springstun with the help of a firefighter and an EMT were able to launch a boat and reach the driver, identified as John Wells, 67, of Poland.

Wells was removed from the cab of the truck and transported back to dry ground. He was checked by EMT's and released.

"Without the proper equipment and training these rescues would not have been possible," stated ICO Springstun.

Springstun also stated that Putnam County deputies Mike Downing, Dwight Simmons and Chadwick Benge of Floyd Township Fire Department also played a key role in the rescues. Other departments that assisted were the Putnam County Sheriff's Department, Reelsville, Floyd Township, Greencastle, Madison, Bainbridge and Owen County Fire departments.