A group of Orange Water and Sewer Authority employees helped rescue a woman and child from a wrecked vehicle off Old NC 86 in Orange County Friday morning.
A spokesperson for OWASA said employees Brett Bradshaw, Jason Blake, Roy Bryant, Andrew Crawford, Dale Lovely and Anthony Brady witnessed a motor vehicle accident Friday morning. The vehicle fell off a bridge into a creek and was partially submerged.
Orrin Robbins was traveling northbound on the road behind the OWASA trucks when they suddenly pulled off to the right. The OWASA employees waded into the water and pulled the child out of the vehicle first, before smashed a window with a tool and extracting the woman.
“The [OWASA] guys were moving fast,” said Robbins in an email to Chapelboro. “The passenger side of vehicle was mostly under water and I think the airbag had deployed. Took a lot of effort to extract driver. Probably five minutes. [The OWASA employees then] carried her to the bank.”
Robbins says the accident occurred close to 11:20 a.m.
The spokesperson said Orange Grove Fire Department and EMS crews arrived shortly after and checked the two for injuries.
“The OWASA guys seemed to have things under control,” said Robbins. “They deserve serious kudos for their efforts.”
Related Stories
‹
Viewpoints: University Lake Dam and Recent Flooding of Morgan CreekAs OWASA works alongside our local government counterparts to repair damage caused by Tropical Depression Chantal, we are struck by the devastation our community has experienced.
OWASA Details Downtown Chapel Hill Water Line Replacement, Major Road ClosureA significant OWASA water line replacement project is set to close parts of West Rosemary Street for roughly 18 months starting this fall.
Community Members Donate To Support Baxter Bar & Arcade Following Water Main BreakAfter suffering a water main failure, The Baxter Arcade and Bar turned to the community for support in the form of a GoFundMe campaign.
OWASA Prepares for Public Hearing While Weighing Latest Round of Rate IncreasesThe Orange Water and Sewer Authority, OWASA, is considering a 7% rate increase to help cover project costs for major infrastructure upgrades.
Orange County Sheriff's Office: 1 Arrested, 1 At Large After Attempted BurglaryA Durham man is wanted by local law enforcement after an attempted break-in and burglary of an Orange County business, a high-speed chase and car crash during the early hours of Thursday, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. A release Thursday afternoon said the office took out six felony warrants against 24-year-old Erlin Lopez […]
Water Main Break Closes Chapel Hill Road; OWASA Issues Boil Water Advisory for Affected CustomersThe Orange Water and Sewer Authority responded to a water main break in Chapel Hill on Thursday morning along Willow Drive.
![]()
On Air Today: Wonderful Water With OWASA's Director of Distribution and Collection Jesse DuClauOrange Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA) Director of Distribution and Collection Jesse DuClau joined 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey for our monthly Wonderful Water conversation. He discussed OWASA's role in supporting Western North Carolina during Hurricane Helene recovery.
Pair of Projects Set to Close E. Rosemary Street in Chapel Hill for Nearly 2 WeeksA popular downtown street in Chapel Hill will close for around two weeks due to a pair of projects, according to the town government. An update shared Thursday said East Rosemary Street between Columbia Street and Henderson Street will close to through traffic starting on Saturday. The projects are the Orange Water and Sewer Authority […]
![]()
Wonderful Water: OWASA Deputy Executive Director Monica DodsonOrange Water and Sewer Authority Deputy Executive Director Monica Dodson spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Wednesday, October 23. She discussed OWASA's compliance with a 2021 rule requiring an inventory of all of the utility's drinking water service lines. She shared that now lead was found in any of those service lines, but a little over 100 customers will need to have some pipes replaced. She discussed those processes and more.
![]()
On Air Today: Wonderful Water With OWASA's Katie Hall and DHHS's Kennedy HoltOrange Water and Sewer Authority's Public Information Officer Katie Hall and Department of Health and Human Services Toxicologist Kennedy Holt spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Monday, September 30. They discussed the third community chat on PFAS hosted by OWASA, which will be Wednesday, October 2 at the Chapel Hill Public Library.
›
Orrin Robbins and I crossed New Hope Creek bridge and pulled over only seconds after the two OWASA trucks pulled off Old 86. The engine of the car on its side in the creek cut itself off and steam was boiling off the radiator when the first man from OWASA leapt aboard. You could hear that bad sound of hot metal popping.
“How many are in there? How many!” the man from OWASA kept yelling. The windows were all rolled up. “Bring me a hammer! Quick, anything!”
Two other men from OWASA were in the water by the time he smashed the window out.
First two little arms, then his head emerged from the broken window. The men in the water passed the little boy over to the shore, then up to the bridge, where he watched as three men pulled his mama out. The airbag made this seem slow and tedious, but the little boy knew he was in good hands and did not whimper.
Thanks to the OWASA man’s skill and bravery, she should be able to ask her little boy twenty years from now whether he remembers the day the car ran through ten feet of steel guardrail and landed in New Hope Creek…
Bottom line: the good man from OWASA, the one who led the charge and pulled two people to safety, in my humble opinion deserves an award for saving their lives.
Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukah!
JHSowder