At about 1:55 a.m., Johnson County dispatch received a 911 call from someone who witnessed a car getting trapped in high waters in the 102000 block of County Road 528. The caller advised the driver tried to make it through the water, however, the vehicle stalled and a male, female and the boy tried to walk back to the caller's vehicle. While attempting to walk back all three were swept away by the rushing high water.
Deputies were dispatched to the area to try and locate the family. Upon deputies arrival, they could hear the male hollering for help in one location and the female hollering for help from a different location. Deputies were able to locate both the male and female but were unable to get to them because of the high swift water and it being so dark.
Johnson County Emergency Services District No. 1, Mansfield and Rendon Fire, Swift Water Rescue Team was contacted and arrived a short time later. The Swift Water Team deployed rescue boats and recovered the male and female. Both the male and female were transported to the hospital and later released. The child was not located at that time.
Drones were deployed as rescue boats continued to search the water while deputies, Sheriff Adam King and a chief deputy walked the shores and waded in several feet of rushing water. At about 7:20 a.m. the boy was found and pulled from the water.
"The Johnson County Sheriff's Office would like to thank our dispatchers, deputies, all fire personnel and other first responders who responded to such a difficult situation," a JCSO Facebook post read. "We didn't get the outcome we had worked so hard to get; however, we couldn't have done it without each of you."
In an effort to respond, Johnson County Emergency Management Director and Fire Marshal Jamie Moore got stranded himself. He exited his vehicle and climbed on the roof.
"I'll explain more details later, but clearly I was trying to get to the call," he said Monday morning. "What first responder wouldn't when you knew a child was involved. Lessons to be learned for public safety and for the public."
Moore said there were other calls equally as distressing but with better outcomes.
"The first responders in Johnson County truly are an amazing group," he said. "Keep them in your thoughts."
Numerous roads remained closed throughout Monday as they were still flooded.
On Monday morning, Johnson County Judge Chris Boedeker issued a disaster declaration for the county. This may allow for additional assistance.
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