Helicopter photo
by News Channel 8's Annie Rourke
Posted Nov. 13, 2007Updated 9:30 PM
Seymour (WTNH) A tow truck operator jumped into action to help a person that had careened off the road into the Peat Swamp reservoir in Seymour.
Ken Woodward heard about the accident from a Seymour store owner who was listening to a scanner.
"I know it's out in the middle of nowhere, maybe they couldn't get there in time, maybe I can help whoever's there, you know, it was just something that came over me, I had to do it," Ken said.
Woodward jumped in his AAA tow truck and drove to the scene, arriving just as the fire department was pulling up. Chopper 8 captured the rescue from overhead. The pick-up truck had swerved off Haddad Road and slid down a ten-foot embankment, flipping upside down into the reservoir.
"For some unknown reason, he was unable to negotiate the corner, the curve, and went off the road, into the reservoir," said Lt. Paul Satkowski of the Seymour PD.
Paramedics jumped in the water, desperately trying to free the driver trapped inside, but one door was wedged into the embankment and the other was stuck in the muck and wouldn't budge. With precious seconds slipping by, Ken Woodward turned his tow truck around, hooked up the cables and dragged the victim's truck out enough to free the driver.
Woodward says he doesn't know what made him go to the reservoir, but his intuition told him he might be able to help. Tonight, Seymour police are calling him a hero, saying his help gave that driver a fighting chance.
"Our hats go off to him, without his help and assistance, the outcome could've been a lot worse," said Lt. Satkowski.
The victim is in critical condition. His name has been withheld pending notification of his family.
Here is the link to some video: http://www.wtnh.com/Global/story.asp?s=7352755
It may not be up for very long.
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