Karen Palmer of Leesburg, Florida, is rescued late Monday night from her flooded car on Hunts Corner Road in Waterford by Game Warden Harry Wiegman. Palmer was driving from Florida to Poland when her car stalled in the floodwaters of Crooked River. Submitted photo
WATERFORD — A woman on her way from Florida to Poland was rescued late Monday night from her flooded car on Hunts Corner Road by a game warden who happened to be in the area checking back roads after Sunday night’s heavy rains.
Karen Palmer, 76, of Leesburg, Florida, was hypothermic and disoriented when Game Warden Harry Wiegman found her about 11:30 p.m. in her car, which was filled halfway up the door with floodwater from the Crooked River, he said. Later, Wiegman learned she was driving from Florida to Poland where she has spent summers for years.
“Its lights were on at that point, but the car was obviously disabled,” he said. “I was trying to work through how to get out, what was going to be the best resolution.”
“I wasn’t sure how stable the car was, wasn’t sure how long she’d been in there,” Wiegman said. “So, I was kind of weighing out risks … trying to get her out of that situation.”
The car was about 50 yards from his truck and he could hear her yelling for help, Mark Latti, communications director for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, wrote in a news release. Wiegman put on his “float coat” and grabbed another personal floatation device and shuffled his way in the current to safely reach her, Latti said
Wiegman brought Palmer to his truck and once warmed up she said she absolutely needed her medicine in her car.
As Wiegman was making a second trip to the car to get essential medications and a few personal belongings, Game Warden Sarah Miller arrived to assist him, Latti said. Palmer was examined by emergency medical services personnel and released.
Wiegman drove Palmer to Poland where she is staying with family, Latti said.
She has recovered, Wiegman said, but is going through the stress of losing property and personal belongings.
Game Warden Harry Wiegman, left, retrieves medications and personal property late Monday night from a car partially submerged in the floodwaters of the Crooked River on Hunts Corner Road in Waterford. Wiegman was checking roads for flooding when he discovered Karen Palmer, 76, of Florida in her car suffering hypothermia. Warden Sarah Miller, right, serves as a spotter as Wiegman waded through the current. Submitted photo
“But she’s doing well, and that was the main thing,” he said. “That’s the most important part. It’s a lot to process when your car is damaged, and your stuff is floating, but all that stuff can get replaced. I’m just glad it was a right-place, right-time thing and that it worked out really well.”
“We haven’t had flooding like that in the last couple of years, anyway,” he said.
The Maine Warden Service emphasizes preparedness for any situation, whether in the woods, on the road or the water. Flotation devices, throw ropes and other safety devices and equipment should be on hand for any situation, normal or otherwise, Wiegman said.
“It obviously feels good to be there when you’re needed, and to have a good outcome because that very easily could have been a very sad outcome,” Wiegman said.
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