Kentucky Department of Highways Magoffin County employee is credited for saving the life of a motorist who had been involved in an accident that left a pickup truck upside down in a creek.

The accident happened Saturday night while crews were preparing to salt and plow roads and remove trees after this weekend’s winter storm, heard the crash and located the spot where the driver ran off the road.

In a press release today Mark A. Westfall, chief district engineer for Highway District 10, which includes Magoffin County said: “Our employees at our garage’s work long hours during winter weather events to keep the roads safe for motorists, so we already know how important they are and how many sacrifices they make for the public’s benefit.”

Kermit Howes pickup truck ran off the road and overturned in the Burning Fork Creek off KY eighteen eighty eight east of Salyersville around 8 p.m. Saturday. He was ejected from the vehicle and was found unconscious, floating down the creek.

Chris McCarty dove into the cold water and got Kermit Howes and brought him back to the edge of the creek. Then, two more employees Matthew Bailey, and Stanley Howard, along with a private citizen helped get Howes to the top of the creek bank. Kentucky State Police and the Magoffin County rescue squad responded to the accident, and Howes was taken to an area hospital with head injuries.

Paul Bailey, superintendent II at the Magoffin County garage said in the press release, “Chris didn’t hesitate, he jumped right in and pulled the guy out of the water. Chris saw him floating in the water and dived off the bank. He definitely saved his (Howes) life.”

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