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Children, cops prevent tragedy at Bishop canal |
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Monday, 17 August 2009 |
 Bishop Police officers, Inyo County Sheriff’s Department deputies and investigators, and even the District Attorney investigator all assisted in pulling Mark Strout from his 1996 Ford Explorer that landed in the canal east of Bishop on Wednesday. The four young passengers were able to help each other out of the truck before it became submerged. Strout was airlifted to Renown Medical Center in Reno with major injuries. Photo by Kellie Caparula By Mike Bodine
Register Staff
8-15-2009 A truck driven by a 32-year-old Bishop man and carrying four passengers, all under the age of 13, wound up sinking in the canal at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Bishop. It was the brave efforts of 12-year-old passenger Taylor Brown and Bishop law enforcement personnel that prevented the accident from becoming a tragedy.
According to a California Highway Patrol press release, Mark Strout was driving his 1996 Ford Explorer northbound on the canal road, less than a quarter mile north of East Line Street. Also in the truck were Brown, Baily Cruz, 11, McKenzie Brown, 10, and Jordyn Brown, 3, all of Bishop.
For reasons as yet unknown, Strout lost control of his vehicle and it landed in the canal on the driver’s side – quickly taking on water.
As the truck filled with water and started to sink, Cruz and McKenzie Brown were able to climb out through the open passenger side window.
The CHP said Taylor Brown removed Jordyn Brown from her car seat that was in the driver’s side back seat. Taylor handed Jordyn to Cruz and McKenzie, then the two girls helped Taylor out of the vehicle.
The truck was completely submerged in moments, with less than two feet of the passenger’s side of the truck out of the water, and Strout stuck in his seat.
An unnamed woman who was nearby, reading in her car under the shade of cottonwoods, said she heard the splash, saw the kids dashing out of the water and quickly called 911.
Bishop Police Department received the call at 2:04 p.m. and BPD Sergeant Glenn McClinton and Officer Bryan Rossy were at the scene by 2:05.
According to the CHP, the two dashed into the water to pull the now unconscious Strout from the vehicle through the passenger door.
Inyo County Sheriff’s deputies, the District Attorney’s investigator and an Inyo Narcotics Enforcement Team officer arrived on scene shortly thereafter to assist with the extrication of Strout, the CHP said.
After freeing the unconscious man from the vehicle, officers performed CPR on Strout until EMTs from Symon’s Ambulance Service arrived and took over at 2:08.
The woman who called 911 said she was very impressed by the reaction time of law enforcement. “They were here before I could get off the phone.”
McClinton consoled the visibly distraught children until their parents arrived.
Strout was taken to Northern Inyo Hospital with major injuries and in critical condition, before being airlifted to Renown Medical Center in Reno.
His condition at this time is unknown.
The children escaped with a few scrapes and bruises and a story to last a lifetime.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 29 September 2009 )
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