More details released after car crashes into Ohio River

POMEROY, Ohio (WTAP/WSAZ) - More details have been released about a dramatic rescue of a child and the effort to recover a body and vehicle after a car went into the Ohio River in Pomeroy Tuesday night.

Dakota Rice, a volunteer with the Pomeroy Fire Department, said he and his chief were the first on scene after it was reported around 8:40 pm.

Driver dead, child rescued after vehicle crashes into Ohio River

Rice said the car was partially through the ice with its rear tilted up at first, and he went across the ice and grabbed a 4-year-old girl through the rear windshield, where the glass had been broken out.

He said he thinks the woman who’d been driving may have been holding her out toward him.

Rice said the ice he was standing on began to break while he was holding the child.

He said he then threw the child toward the bank as hard as he could before he fell through the ice. His entire body was submerged.

Another firefighter on scene picked up the child and took her to safety from there, and she was taken to a hospital.

Rice said he was able to get out safely, but after what felt like less than a minute, the vehicle was completely submerged through the ice and into the river.

The assistant Pomeroy fire chief said the vehicle remains in the river Wednesday morning, and they’re waiting for a dive team from Columbus to arrive to determine whether the vehicle and body can be safely brought out.

There’s no word yet on what caused the initial accident that led to the vehicle going off the road.

Rice said he heard the child is expected to be okay.

The name of the victim has not been released.

Rice said he went to the hospital Tuesday night as well.

The assistant chief said the section of the river where the car went through is 25-30 feet deep.

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