Boy, women rescued from high water

Sheriff’s Office news

WILLSHIRE — A young county resident and his mother are likely happy with the water rescue training received by the Van Wert Fire Department, whose members saved them from high water on Tuesday night.

According to a report by the Van Wert County Sheriff’s Office, a 9-1-1 call was received from Robyn Moles of rural Willshire stating that her son had driven around barricades and into high water on Ohio 49, just south of Piqua Road and north of Willshire, where his car had stalled.

The teen, Jared Moses, was inside the car when deputies arrived and Deputy J.M. Roehm, the first officer on the scene, told him to climb out of a window and onto the roof of the vehicle.

At that time, Moses said his feet were the only thing wet, but the cold was a factor since he was wearing only pants, socks and a t-shirt.

Units from Willshire Fire Department and Wren EMS Squad then arrived on the scene, and a request was made for the Van Wert Fire Water Rescue Team. In addition, the Samaritan life-flight helicopter from Fort Wayne, Ind., was put on standby in case is needed to transport Moses after he was rescued. The helicopter was later dispatched to the Wren ballpark.

Meanwhile, the cold weather conditions became a concern, with the teen reporting that he could not feel anything from the waist down.

Deputies asked Jared’s mother to take her vehicle to a nearby residence and she would be contacted when her son was rescued.

Soon after that, the VWFD water rescue team arrived on the scene and its boat was put in the water. The team quickly rescued Moses from his car, which was about 50 yards from the edge of the high water in a ditch on the east side of the road. He was then put in the VWFD EMS squad unit and was treated for exposure, while the life-flight helicopter was allowed to return to Fort Wayne.

The incident didn’t end there, however, as Moles returned with another woman and also became stranded in another portion of high water, where they were rescued by the VWFD boat.

Both cars were towed from the water by a Mace wrecker.