304.663.1118

Highlandville Rural Fire Protection District received two, back-to-back swift water rescue calls at about 10 a.m. in the main camp grounds of Busiek, which is located eight miles south of Ozark in southern Christian County on U.S. 65 Highway.


"We had two separate calls, about five minutes apart," said HRFPD public information officer Teri Blevins. "The first one reported four people trapped in rising water on top of a van in the camp ground parking lot in Busiek."

The four people trapped on the van ended up being four children ages 9 through 14.

"Their dad and another child were back up the campground about a quarter of a mile trying to break camp," Blevins said. "Then the water carried the van downstream several feet."

Blevins said eight to 12 HRFPD members, Ozark and the Springfield Water Rescue team were called to provide mutual aid. Springfield brought a boat and two Sea-Doo jet skis to make the rescues.

All four youngsters were rescued without injury, Blevins said.

The second call involved a father and his 16-year-old daughter trapped on the other side of the same floodwaters in Busiek, Blevins said. She said both were rescued with Springfield's assistance and not injured.

Christian County received nearly 2 inches of rain during a 24-hour period June 28. Added to the more than 13 inches of rain that fell in the previous 27 days and Christian County has received more than 14 inches of rain for the month of June.


By: Chris J. Cluck, CCH staff writer
07/02/2008©Ozarks Newsstand 2008
http://www.christiancountyheadliner.com/site/tab6.cfm?newsid=19819589&BRD=2841&PAG=461&dept_id=603534&rfi=6