On May 21, 2010 at 11:42 A.M. Lincoln County Fire Protection District #1, Lincoln County Ambulance District, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department and Wright City Fire Protection District responded to the scene of a child trapped in a vehicle, overturned in a creek on Linn’s Mill Rd. approximately two miles south of Highway 47.

Agent Tim McDaniels of the Missouri Department of Conservation heard the call for help and arrived first on the scene, as well as Lincoln County Sheriff’s Sergeant Doug Hawk, and an employee from a local cable/satellite company who was working nearby. All three men entered the water in a valiant attempt to rescue the four year-old trapped child, but were unable to open the doors or windows of the underwater vehicle. Lincoln County Fire Rescue-Pumper 6414 arrived on-scene.

Firefighter Mike Weitkamp and Lieutenant Jack Cope exited the apparatus wearing their water rescue gear and immediately entered the water. Firefighter Steven Fair and Captain Allen Heyer hoisted the vehicle on its side using a winch attached to the rescue pumper and within minutes, firefighters were then able to gain access and rescue the child, still seat-belted in a car seat.

The child was immediately handed to Paramedics from Lincoln County Ambulance District. Paramedics determined the child was not breathing and immediately started CPR. The child was transported to Lincoln County Medical Center. After more than an hour of resuscitation efforts by Paramedics and Lincoln County Medical Center staff, the child passed away.