A Kansas sheriff’s deputy had to be pulled from rushing floodwaters by fellow deputies after his patrol SUV was swept away while responding to a deadly rescue call near Wellington.
In a report for KAKE News, reporter Kate Devine described how a Saturday flooding emergency in Sumner County grew rapidly more dangerous after two drivers allegedly drove around road-closure barricades and entered water-covered South Oliver Road.
The incident left one person dead, another driver rescued, and a deputy’s patrol vehicle swallowed by floodwater.
But before the rescue operation could continue, first responders had to save one of their own.
According to Sumner County Undersheriff Mike Westmoreland, two deputies formed a human chain in the water and pulled the trapped deputy to safety after his vehicle was swept away.
The scene unfolded after days of heavy rain left water moving quickly across roads and ditches southeast of Wellington. First responders said the flood conditions were severe enough that crews initially had to suspend part of the search because the water was too deep and too fast to safely enter.
What began as a response to two stranded drivers became a multi-layered rescue involving submerged vehicles, a missing person, a submerged patrol SUV, and a human chain formed in dangerous conditions.
Two Drivers Went Around Road Closure Signs
Devine reported that crews were dispatched Saturday afternoon to the 600 block of South Oliver Road in Wellington for a vehicle submerged in floodwaters.
While fire and EMS crews were on the way, they learned there were actually two vehicles trapped in the water.
Bradley Robinson of Wellington Fire and EMS said responders found one vehicle in an east ditch and another in a west ditch.
“While in route, we were advised that there was actually two vehicles submerged,” Robinson said.
The drivers had allegedly gone around barricades marking the road closure.
That decision set off the chain of events that followed.
Flooded roads can appear passable from a distance, especially when water is moving evenly across pavement instead of crashing like a river. But roadways can wash out underneath, drainage ditches can deepen without warning, and a vehicle can lose traction almost immediately.
Authorities said both drivers entered the area despite the closure signs.
The warning from first responders was blunt: the outcome was preventable.
A Patrol SUV Disappears Under The Water
As emergency crews arrived, they saw a third vehicle being taken by the floodwaters.
At first, responders did not realize it belonged to a sheriff’s deputy.
“We didn’t know it was a sheriff’s deputy’s vehicle at first,” Robinson told KAKE. “But definitely a bit of a shock.”
Photos shown in Devine’s report captured the Sumner County Sheriff’s Office patrol SUV partially submerged after being swept away during the response.
The deputy had apparently entered the dangerous area while trying to help the drivers trapped in the flood zone.
In fast-moving water, even a heavy SUV can become unstable. Water does not have to be especially deep to move a vehicle once the current catches underneath it, and floodwater can hide washed-out pavement, debris, or drop-offs that make escape harder.
The deputy’s vehicle disappearing under the water turned an already dangerous rescue into a crisis for the responding agencies.
Deputies Form A Human Chain To Pull Him Out
Undersheriff Westmoreland said two deputies moved into position and formed a human chain to reach their fellow deputy.
They linked together and pulled him from the floodwater before returning to assist with the original rescue operation.
The bodycam-style urgency of the situation was not captured in the report, but the description alone shows how quickly the danger escalated.
A human chain is one of the most basic rescue methods in moving water, but it is still dangerous. The people creating the chain are relying on one another’s footing, strength, balance, and ability to avoid being pulled downstream.
In this case, the deputies were not entering calm water. They were dealing with a flooded roadway after days of torrential rain, with vehicles already swept into ditches and one patrol SUV lost beneath the current.
Westmoreland’s account made clear that the deputies did not simply retrieve a vehicle. They had to save the deputy before the larger rescue could continue.
That kind of moment stays with responders. They are trained to help strangers, but being forced to pull a coworker from floodwater adds a different kind of pressure.
One Driver Escaped, Another Was Missing
According to Robinson, the driver of the vehicle in the east ditch managed to get out on his own.
The other driver could not be located.
Rescuers faced a difficult decision. They could not immediately search the water because conditions were too dangerous.
“The water was moving too fast and it was too deep,” Robinson said.
Crews suspended the search Saturday rather than risk more lives in the current.
That decision may be hard for families to hear in the middle of an emergency, but it reflects the reality of water rescue. Sending responders into a flood channel without safe conditions can turn one victim into several.
Search efforts resumed the next day with help from the Kansas Highway Patrol.
Robinson said KHP brought in a helicopter to assist, and searchers later located the missing victim about a quarter mile east of where the vehicle had gone into the water.
Authorities said the man who died was from near Omaha, Nebraska.
Officials Say The Death Did Not Have To Happen
Westmoreland said the case was difficult for deputies because they believed the loss was preventable.
“It’s sad because, I mean, you know, it’s preventable,” he said. “It didn’t have to happen.”
He said deputies also feel the emotional weight of making calls to family members after fatal incidents, especially when the danger began with a decision to ignore road closure signs.
“You feel for the family, you feel for the friends,” Westmoreland said. “You have to make those calls. It takes a toll on deputies as well.”
The second driver survived and was ticketed, according to the sheriff’s office.
The sheriff’s office and first responders used the incident to reinforce a message often repeated during floods: barricades are not suggestions.
They are placed where officials believe roads are unsafe, where water may be hiding washed-out pavement, or where the current is strong enough to move vehicles.
People sometimes assume they can judge the water from inside a truck, SUV, or car. But floodwater does not need much depth to make a vehicle unstable, and drivers usually cannot see whether the road surface is still there.
A Rescue That Could Have Ended Even Worse
Kate Devine’s report shows how one poor decision can spread danger far beyond the original driver.
Two vehicles entered a closed road. One driver escaped. Another died. A deputy’s patrol SUV was swept away. Two more deputies had to form a human chain to pull their colleague from the water.
That is why first responders react so strongly to drivers bypassing barricades.
The initial choice may take only a few seconds, but the consequences can involve fire crews, deputies, EMS workers, helicopter crews, family members, and entire departments.
The deputy rescued from the submerged patrol SUV survived because coworkers moved quickly and worked together in dangerous conditions.
The victim found the next day did not get that same outcome.
As Sumner County continues to deal with flooding risks, officials are urging drivers to turn around when they see a closed road, even when the water does not look severe.
The patrol SUV can be replaced. The deputy was rescued.
But the loss of a life is the part of the call that first responders said they will not forget.
Gary’s love for adventure and preparedness stems from his background as a former Army medic. Having served in remote locations around the world, he knows the importance of being ready for any situation, whether in the wilderness or urban environments. Gary’s practical medical expertise blends with his passion for outdoor survival, making him an expert in both emergency medical care and rugged, off-the-grid living. He writes to equip readers with the skills needed to stay safe and resilient in any scenario.
