By Jim Hannah
Enquirer staff writer

VERONA - Three construction workers saved two young children from a sport-utility vehicle that rolled into a pond in Boone County Thursday afternoon.

"They are actually heroes," said Tom Scheben, spokesman for the Boone County Sheriff's Department. "They dove in the lake and rescued the kids from a sinking vehicle."

Officials said the near-tragedy happened about 2 p.m. on a construction site in a development called Manor Estates at Porter Plantation off Porter Road. A mother had stopped at the site to talk to workers building her family's new home.

The woman, whose name was not available late Thursday, got out of the SUV with her two children inside.

Scheben said the SUV, which was still running, slipped out of gear and rolled down a hill and into the pond.

Scheben said three construction workers ran and pulled out the children. He said the children, ages 2 and 4, were unharmed.

Tom Webster, owner of Tow America, was called to pull the SUV out of the pond.

He estimated the vehicle was at least 15 feet under water and 80 feet from the bank.

Webster said homes were being constructed around the one-acre pond.

Boone County Water Rescue was called to hook a tow rope to the SUV, and the Verona Fire Department responded to assist.

The construction workers, who were putting up drywall nearby, couldn't be reached for comment Thursday evening. Firefighters who responded said they didn't get the names of the men who saved the kids.

Attempts to reach the mother were unsuccessful.

E-mail jhannah@enquirer.com