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Last updated on Thursday, June 11, 2015
(HUNTINGTON CO.) - Indiana Conservation Officers from Wabash, Grant, and Kosciusko counties along with multiple other emergency response agencies responded to a 911 call of three subjects who had been swept off their inflatable tubes Wednesday evening in the Wabash River just down from the Roush Reservoir dam.
At approximately 9:20pm a 911 call was received by the Huntington County Sheriff's Department from 24-year-old Jerrika Huffman of Huntington who had been one of the victims but she made her way to safety.
Huffman stated that 21-year-old Nathan R. Wright of Huntington and 29-year-old Joni E. Wininger of Huntington were still in the river clinging to branches unable to get themselves to safety.
A rescue boat from the Huntington City Fire Department manned by Mike Burnworth, Joel Updike, and Cale Eckert was launched just below the dam and reached the two remaining victims. They were safely brought back to shore whereupon a waiting ambulance transported the females to Huntington Parkview Hospital for examination. Wright refused treatment.
None of the victims had personal flotation devices with them as required by law and at least one of the victims was unable to swim. All three victims were ticketed by Indiana Conservation Officers on scene for not possessing the required personal flotation devices. All three victims are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Investigating officer Jerry Hoerdt stated "We are very fortunate to not have had any loss of life in this incident. If not for the quick actions of the Huntington Fire Department, Joni and Nathan might not have survived. All three are lucky to be alive and we can not stress enough to wear your life jackets when on or near the water".
Other departments assisting at the scene were the Huntington County Sheriffs Department, Mount Etna Fire Department, Andrews Fire Department, and the Huntington County Technical Rescue team.
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