BY SUSAN VELA
The Cincinnati Enquirer
FALMOUTH -- A United Parcel Service driver and a Falmouth firefighter have been credited for saving the life of a water truck driver on Christmas Eve.
"They need to be recognized," Falmouth Fire Chief Marty Hart said. "They are true holiday heroes. If they hadn't gotten into (his) vehicle and rescued him, he would've died. When we got there, the vehicle was fully engulfed."
Tom Lucius was the firefighter. He was not injured. Meanwhile, the UPS driver, whose name is unknown, and water truck driver David Colvin were both hospitalized for injuries they sustained Thursday afternoon in the vehicle wreck and consequent rescue on U.S. 27, about three miles north of Falmouth.
Mr. Colvin was airlifted to University Hospital to be treated for possible third-degree burns on one of his legs. He was in serious condition Thursday evening.
The UPS driver was transported by ambulance to St. Luke East in Fort Thomas to be treated for smoke inhalation and a cut on his hand. Hospital officials were unable to release a condition for the UPS truck driver without a name, but Chief Hart thinks he'll be OK.
The water truck had been southbound on U.S. 27, about
three miles north of Falmouth, when it overturned. Firefighters were dispatched to the scene at 2:54 p.m., responding to a call that a vehicle had overturned, it was in flames and a man was trapped inside.
They arrived on the scene in four minutes to find the vehicle fully engulfed.
Within that time, the UPS driver had stopped his truck and jumped into the burning vehicle to save the man.
Off-duty firefighter Lucius also came upon the crash scene and helped the UPS driver get the burning man out of his vehicle. Two others also stopped to help.
Mr. Colvin was hysterical, screaming while his clothes still smoldered, Chief Hart said.
About 15 firefighters responded to the scene. Falmouth Police and Pendleton County Sheriff's Department assisted.
