Infant Saved By Father Following Mo. Rollover Crash
PLEASANT HILL, Mo. --
A 6-month-old Pleasant Hill boy was taken to Children's Mercy Hospital after being saved from a submerged truck in a freezing creek by his father. Two Pleasant Hill fire medics started their day with a water rescue call. At the time of the crash around 8:30 Monday morning, Route VV East of 7 Highway was covered in slush, and snow was still falling.
While rescue crews were on the way, they said they had no idea what they'd find.
"The creek was up and the water was very cold," said Assistant Chief Nathan Carpenter with the Pleasant Hill Fire Department.
Missouri State troopers said 24-year-old William Whenham's truck lost control on the curvy road. His 6-month-old son, Colton, was along with him. The report said they went down the embankment, flipped and landed in the creek below.
"The baby had been upside down, buckled in the seat in the water," said Carpenter.
The dad unbuckled him from his car seat and pull him to safety.
"We had to treat it like a near drowning. Even for one minute, we didn't know how much water made it in the baby's lungs," said Carpenter.
Firefighters are still shaking their heads at the wreck. They know too well it easily could have had a much different ending.
"It could have been a double fatal, out in the cold water," said Carpenter.
Both the father and baby were reportedly treated for hypothermia.
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