Thursday, February 25, 1999
Passerby saves sinking motorist
BY WILLIAM A. WEATHERS
The Cincinnati Enquirer
INDEPENDENCE — A 41-year-old Independence woman was rescued from an almost certain death Wednesday when a passerby pulled her from her car as it was sinking into a lake.
“If he hadn't seen her going in, there would be a missing-person report out,” Police Officer Gregory Hallau said Wednesday night of the quick action of John Ross of Independence.
“He's pretty much the hero here.”
According to police, Kathleen Watson was driving south on Ky. 17 near Summerview Middle School about 11:23 a.m. when a dog ranin front of her car.
As she swerved to avoid the dog, her car went off the road and into a nearby lake.
Mr. Ross, who happened to be driving past, saw the car plunge into the lake, police said.
He stopped, took off his shoes and socks, jumped in the water and pulled Mrs. Watson from the vehicle just before it sank beneath the surface.
“He did a heck of a job,” Officer Hallau said.
Ms. Watson was treated at St. Elizabeth Medical Center South and released.
If Mr. Ross hadn't been passing by, no one would have known the car had gone into the lake, Officer Hallau said.
“It's just dumb luck,” he said.
Mr. Ross told police he normally would have been at work at the time, but had called in sick Wednesday. He was on his way to the Florence Mall when, for a reason Mr. Ross can't explain, he turned around and headed home.
His inexplicable decision saved Mrs. Watson's live, Officer Hallau said.
“I guess just everything was going right for this lady,” he said.
Mr. Ross and Mrs. Watson are neighbors — residents of the same subdivision — but had never met before that eventful Wednesday morning.
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