Iolan Scout Henry, 18, remains hospitalized at the University of Kansas Medical Center after a single-car accident left her stranded on a creek bed for about seven hours in near freezing temperatures early Sunday morning.
The Allen County Sheriff’s Department said Henry had apparently fallen asleep while traveling along Nebraska Road, about four miles east of Moran or two miles west of Bronson, just south of U.S. 54.
Her sport utility vehicle landed on its side on the creek bed about 2 a.m. Sunday.
The wreckage was just far enough out of view that several motorists passed by without noticing Henry, who climbed from the vehicle with a broken leg until Randy McCall drove upon the scene.
McCall told the Register he was checking on his wheat field, when he saw the Ford Escape on its side.
“It was hidden just enough that if you weren’t really looking for it, you’d miss it,” McCall said. “I glanced at it and thought, shoot, I better go back to check on it. That’s when I saw her sitting there.”
Henry had no shoes or socks on, nor did she have any gloves.
“She had a good coat on,” McCall said. “I was able to toss her a pair of my work gloves.”
McCall dialed 911, and then assisted ambulance crews and Allen County sheriff’s deputies as they treated Henry, then carried her up the 12-foot drop-off from the road.
McCall deflected all praise coming his way.
“I’m not a hero,” he said. “I’d want somebody to do the same if it was one of my kids out there.
“A miracle happened out here,” McCall continued. “The good Lord was with her, or he was at least in the near vicinity.”
Henry, a student at Allen Community College, was transported to Allen County Regional Hospital, and then later transferred to to KU Med Center, for treatment of a broken leg and possible hypothermia.
Iola teen injured in accident
