From the Office of the Sheriff Sheriff Dennis L. Dotson

For Immediate Release

NEWS RELEASE

Date: Nov 19, 2009

Summary:

On November 18, 2009, Lincoln County Sheriff's Office deputies, assisted by the Oregon State Police, investigated a one vehicle injury traffic crash on Widow Creek Road, Rose Lodge, OR that sent the driver and three of her young children to the Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital in Lincoln City. The crash was reported by a man and wife who live on Widow Creek Road who happened across the crash just after it occurred. The man reported seeing the blue 1999 Ford Explorer upside down in the creek half submerged by the rushing water. While his wife called 911, he went into the rushing water and was able to extricate 2 year-old, Kylie Gandy and 3 year-old Austin Gandy from their car seats from the back seat of the vehicle and then assist the driver and mother of the children, Amber Lee Gandy age 25 from Grand Ronde, to the shore. He then learned that there was a 6 month old, Kameron Gandy, still trapped in a carseat located in the front passenger seat of the vehicle. He was able to get Kameron from the vehicle and to the shore, but Kameron was not breathing and did not have a pulse.

All of the vehicle occupants were transported to Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital. The medical team was able to revive Kameron, but he was in critical condition. While Kylie, Austin, and Amber made a quick full recovery from issues of being submerged in the cold water, Kameron was flown via Life Flight to Dornbecker's Hospital in Portland.

Evidence revealed that Amber Gandy was under the influence of intoxicants and that alcohol was a contributing factor of the traffic crash. The crash is still under investigation and criminal charges are pending.

The man who saved the family from drowning wishes to remain anonymous at this time.

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