March 16--CUMBERLAND -- A Fairmont, W.Va., woman was recovering from injuries Sunday after an overnight fall into the icy waters of Wills Creek in the 800 block of North Mechanic Street.
The incident occurred at about 12:30 a.m., when the victim reportedly fell from a rear deck of a business, prompting a 911 call to the Allegany County emergency center.
The caller told dispatchers the victim fell and was last seen floating down the creek.
The Cumberland Fire Department immediately responded with Engine 1 company to a location just across the street from the Central Station to watch for the victim. Engine company 3 was dispatched to the Canal Place area where Wills Creek joins the Potomac River.
The Allegany County Water Rescue Team was also immediately alerted by the 911 center that handled communications throughout the incident.
The Cumberland Police Department, Maryland State Police and the Allegany County Sheriff's Office also responded to the incident.
The water flow in the creek at the time of the incident was about 700 cubic feet per second, compared to a median average flow of 376 cubic feet per second. The maximum flow recorded by the U.S. Geological Survey in 27 years of recordkeeping was logged at 1,580 cubic feet per second.
Drowning and hypothermia were concerns as first-responders all along the flood control area in the city cast eyes on the creek water in search of the victim, 29-year-old Tonyia Kegarise.
At the same time, the swift water rescue team launched a rescue boat into the water in hope of rescuing the injured victim who apparently fell about 15 feet from the deck into the concrete flood control area and into the water.
It was shortly after 1 am., when Cumberland Police officers observed the victim in the water at the rear of the 400 block of North Mechanic after she apparently became "stationary" in the creek.
As the rescue team worked its way toward the victim, city firefighters relocated to the area where the victim was observed. The location was several hundred yards from the area where she fell into the creek.
Cumberland Fire Capt. William R. Davis directed the operation from the ground as firefighters tied a 14-foot ladder with a 24-foot extension ladder to descend the flood wall to the area nearest to the victim. A city firefighter wearing swift water gear also accessed the area but did not enter the water.
At the same time, the water rescue team "got a throw bag to her with 75 feet of lightweight floating rope and a life jacket. The victim was able to don the life jacket as the rescue boat then approached to her location.
"They were able to get the throw rope and life jacket to her and were then able to pull her into the boat.
"Because she was stationary, the boat was coming to her. The safest thing was for her to stay put and let us come to her," said a city fire department official.
Officials said the victim was fortunate that she "found a place to keep her from going farther downstream."
The victim was safe on shore at 1:11 a.m., and was then taken by the Cumberland Fire Department ambulance to the Western Maryland Regional Medical Center for treatment of her injuries.
Cumberland Police investigated the incident and determined the victim had reportedly climbed onto a table on the deck of the business, lost her balance and then fell into the creek.
Cumberland Police officers were dispatched to the various bridges overlooking the waterway. The victim was rescued after she was observed by a city police motorcycle officer who drove along the Great Allegheny Passage bike trail in an attempt to locate the victim.
Contact Jeffrey Alderton at [email protected].
Copyright 2014 - Cumberland Times-News, Md.
