Jackson County police responded to three water rescue incidents over the weekend, including one that left a mother and her young daughter trapped.
Police responded to that call for help at 4:11 p.m. Sunday from a woman on County Road 500W near County Road 100S in central western Jackson County.
Eva Dicks, 32, of Mitchell called police after she drove a 2010 Honda Pilot into a ditch full of water while trying to turn around in floodwaters, Jackson County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Adam Nicholson reported.
Dicks’ 10-year-old daughter was with her in the sport utility vehicle.
Officer Rob Henley responded to the scene and was met by nearby resident Barry Hall, who heard about the water rescue. Hall drove a semi to the area, and the two were able to get within 20 feet of the vehicle before they were blocked by ice.
Henley tied a rope around himself and took a throw bag with him as he walked on the ice to rescue the two. Henley was able to carry the girl to safety, and Hall helped Henley bring Dicks to safety.
The two were given hot packs for warmth and taken to Schneck Medical Center in Seymour by ambulance for evaluation.
Brownstown Police Department, Brownstown Volunteer Fire Department and Jackson County Emergency Medical Services assisted at the scene.
Dicks also received a $500 citation — the maximum — after the incident.
That rescue came on the heels of two incidents Friday in Vernon Township in the southeastern part of the county.
The first incident was reported to the Crothersville Police Department at 5:16 p.m. in the 7800 block of East County Road 600S. No information was available from police about the incident, but no injuries were reported.
The second came at 7:05 p.m. where a light green 2008 Ford Escape was reported in floodwaters in the 600 block of South County Road 800E, Nicholson said.
Kylee N. Luce, 18, of Jeffersonville was rescued by first responders in the incident after her vehicle was swept off of the roadway.
Officer J.L. McElfresh was called to the scene, and the Crothersville-Vernon Township Volunteer Fire Department was able to reach the teen.
Indiana Conservation Officer Blake Everhart also responded with a boat and assisted along with Jackson County EMS. Information about whether Luce was cited was not available Monday.
Sheriff Rick Meyer said he was thankful everyone escaped the floodwaters without injury in all three incidents, but he said motorists should not risk trying to drive through floodwaters.
“You don’t know if the road is washed out beneath, and swift water will wash out the roads,” he said. “We have to be smarter before someone gets seriously hurt or worse.”
He said each time a motorist gets caught in floodwaters, it puts them, their passengers and first responders at risk.
Meyer said he has assisted in many cases of floodwater rescues throughout the years, and some motorists have said their GPS system has led them down roads that have been flooded. But Meyer said motorists should seek an alternate route.
“It may take you an extra 10 or 15 minutes, but it’s worth it every time,” he said. “You can still see when roads are covered in water and ice.”