‘Heroic’ power lineman rescues woman, dog from sinking car in Kentucky River

A utility company is crediting one of its power linemen in the rescue of a woman whose car was sinking in the Kentucky River.

Kentucky Power said line mechanic Brian Combs was traveling to a service center in Hazard, located in southeastern Kentucky, when he saw a car sinking in the Kentucky River. A woman had driven off a steep embankment on what locals call a “dipsy doodle curve,” the utility company said.

“I knew there wasn’t time to wait on emergency rescue to arrive, so I grabbed a rope from my vehicle, tied it around my waist and told the others to hold it from the bank,” Combs said, according to Kentucky Power.

Combs saved the woman, who was unable to swim, and also rescued her small dog, Sugar. They all made it back to the bank of the river unharmed.

“I would have drowned had Brian not rescued me,” the woman, who was not named, told Kentucky Power.

Kentucky Power credited Combs’ “heroic” actions and thanked him for his “incredible bravery.”

This story was originally published January 6, 2022 at 8:37 AM with the headline "‘Heroic’ power lineman rescues woman, dog from sinking car in Kentucky River."