The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office reported Friday a child is in critical condition, and a deputy and an off-duty Ozark County dispatcher were injured when all three were swept into a culvert on Thursday.
Deputy Jesse Three-Eagles responded to a call off of PP Highway, where a child was swept into a culvert under a bridge and became trapped by debris, according to the sheriff’s office.
Several agencies reportedly responded, including the Goodhope Fire Department, Cox ambulance, and numerous citizens.
A child was swept into a culvert off PP Highway and became trapped, the sheriff’s office reported, adding a dispatcher was partially swept in trying to block the culvert, and Deputy Jesse Three-Eagles was then sucked into the culvert while pulling her out.
As the deputy was being pulled through the culvert by the water, officials said, he struck the child and the debris, knocking the child loose. The dispatcher was also reportedly pulled through the culvert by the current and Three-Eagles and a first responder immediately began life-saving measures on the child, who is reportedly in critical condition after being flown to a hospital.
Three-Eagles and the dispatcher were also injured during the incident and were hospitalized and released late Thursday evening, according to the sheriff’s office.
