By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
ELLIS — The 20 volunteers of the Ellis Fire Department train annually in the city swimming pool for various types of water rescues.
Wednesday night, they put that training to work and rescued two people from a Toyota SUV after the vehicle was swept into the rain-swollen Big Creek as it was driven through a low-water crossing east of the dam spillway about 10:45 p.m. The road is a “trail” for use by city employees.
Fire Chief Denis Vine, who’s been on the force since 1973, said it was the first time he could recall a Big Creek water rescue using ropes.
“One winter, years ago, we did rescue a person who fell through the ice,” Vine recalled Thursday afternoon as he stood on the creek bank, looking out at the vehicle, which was still mostly submerged in the water.
As new details about the accident emerged, Vine explained that three of the five people were able to “self-rescue” and get out of the SUV. When first responders arrived at the scene, two people on top of the vehicle had to be rescued by the fire department’s rope team:
Vine commended all the firefighters’ efforts and said he “considers the entire fire department a team, and I’m the coach.”
“We had to have the other guys backing up the two swimmers — Tim Kohlrus and Dustin Vine.”
Brandon Pfeifer was one of the “other guys”:
The accident scene has drawn a lot of curious onlookers.
The Ellis Police Department, Ellis County Sheriff’s Office and Ellis County EMS also responded to the scene, as did several local residents.
There were no injuries to the rescued victims, although Kohlrus lost his boots to the swift-moving river water, Vine said.
Friday morning, Police Chief Taft Yates said an investigation is “still underway.” Yates added it is “yet to be determined if charges will be filed.”
The vehicle occupants were two adult males, two adult females and one minor female.
The Toyota was still in Big Creek as of Friday morning.
Related story: Hays crews conduct rescue efforts after girls swept away by floodwaters.