Updated March 11, 2019
Giles County assisted Lawrence County Fire And Rescue this weekend during a Swift Water Rescue that ended with an ongoing investigation.
Lawrence County Fire Rescue Units were dispatched to East Beasley Road Saturday night where two occupied vehicles had been swept downstream from the roadway after heavy rains.
First arriving units were able to locate one of the two vehicles in the water, in a wooded area approximately 500 yards away from the bridge. The occupant of the first vehicle was found to be on the top of the vehicle with water covering 80 percent.
The rescue was conducted by deploying a swimmer to the vehicle, and hauling the victim, and rescuer back to the shore via a rope/haul system built by rescuers.
The second vehicle was 90% submerged in the swift water. Rescuers deployed rescue swimmers to conduct a search of the submerged vehicle for victims. After a search of the vehicle yielded no results, additional rescuers joined in a search of the waterway and the adjoining land.
Additional water rescuers from Giles County were requested to provide mutual aid. A request was also made to the Tennessee Highway Patrol for a response from their Aviation unit.
Tennessee Highway Patrol helicopter equipped with equipment was dispatched to the scene to search area from overhead for an occupant of the vehicle. The aircraft’s crew searched the waterway from the East Beasley Road bridge to the David Crockett State Park.
The search yielded no signs of the occupant of the second vehicle. During this time, law enforcement officers investigating the incident began following up on information that had been gathered at the scene.
At the request of the incident commander, the Lawrenceburg Utility System responded with their drone, and video equipment. As a result, authorities have not located the driver of the vehicle.
Several hours into the operation, the decision was made to suspend operations due to responder safety concerns, and evidence that the occupant of the vehicle may have left the scene.
The victim that was rescued from the first vehicle did not require any medical treatment.
