[Press Release] : Update on Clark Lane water rescue

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Contact: Battalion Chief Steven Sapp, PIO - (573) 499-7035

Update on Clark Lane water rescue

COLUMBIA, MO (September 14, 2008) - Officials have released the names
of those involved in the incident in the 3200 block of Clark Lane at
2:53 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 14. 

The driver of the vehicle, a 1994 Ford Mustang, which was swept away by
the current, is identified as Chris Crocker, 23, of Columbia. Crocker
stated he was westbound on Clark Lane and entered the water which was
hard to see and gauge the depth and current. Crocker said he realized he
could not get across the road and attempted to back out of the water.
Crocker said the vehicle lost all traction and contact with the road and
began to be swept down stream while the vehicle spun around. Crocker
rolled up the windows when water began pouring into the vehicle and the
vehicle began to sink. Crocker realized he needed to exit the vehicle
and tried to open the door. The pressure on the outside of the door
would not allow the door to open and Crocker then rolled down the
drivers’ window and was able to climb on top of the vehicle. Crocker
then lunged from the roof of the vehicle just as it sunk above the roof
line and was able to cling to the side of the temporary golf cart bridge
over Hominy Creek in swiftly moving water.

As Crocker’s vehicle began to enter the water from the east, a pickup
driven by Devan Arends, 21, of Sturgeon was eastbound on Clark Lane and
stopped at the water over the road. Arends and a passenger, Michelle
Runkle, 21, of Columbia, exited the truck and Arends called 9-1-1 on his
cell phone. As Arends was speaking to 9-1-1, he saw Runkle begin to wade
into the water and called out for her to stop. Arends then answered
questions of the 9-1-1 operator and Arends stated when he looked back to
where he last saw Runkle, she had disappeared from site. 

Columbia firefighters continued to search the creek banks throughout
the day. The search will be suspended at darkness tonight and resume on
Monday, Sept. 15, at daybreak. Water levels in the creek had begun to
drop by 2 p.m. today and are forecast to continue to recede over the
next several days. The 1994 Ford Mustang is visible in the water some 50
yards from where it was swept off the roadway. 

Clark Lane will remain closed to traffic until repairs to the road
which has been substantially damaged can be made. Motorist who use Clark
Lane to get to school and work should plan on taking an alternate route
until further notice.

Several roads remain under water and impassable in Columbia and Boone
County. For updated road closure information, you can visit the city’s
Web site at www.GoColumbiaMo.com and click on the road closure link. 

Emergency services and public works officials in Columbia and Boone
County urge motorists to heed the advice - “Turn Around - Don't
Drown!”

Never attempt to drive across a flooded road in a vehicle or cross on
foot. You cannot tell how deep the water is, nor can you tell where the
roadway is or if the roadway has been washed out and is not there at
all. In addition, flowing water has much more power then we give it
credit for and can easily float and move vehicles off the roadway and
rapidly downstream. 

- 30 -
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