On March 15, a vehicle toppled off of the Combs-Hehl Bridge (MP-462 Ohio River), a 1,440-foot long bridge built in 1979 to carry automobile traffic on I-275 across the Ohio River between Campbell County, Ky., and Hamilton County, Ohio.
The Boone County Water Rescue Team was called to the scene and tried to reach the vehicle on the day of the crash by attaching a line from the car to a bridge pier, but the team had to halt initial rescue efforts due to high river currents.
Eleven days later, the vehicle was pulled from the Ohio River through the cooperative efforts of the Boone County Water Rescue Team, divers from Marine Solutions Inc., Campbell County public safety officials, and a vessel and crane barge from C&B Marine, LLC.
To recover the vehicle, C&B Marine’s MV Enterprise moved in place the deck barge and crane needed to remove the vehicle from the bottom of the Ohio River. After the recovery operation was complete, Boone County officials recognized C&B Marine personnel for their much-needed assistance and efforts in helping to remove this vehicle from the river.
Boone County Administrator Jeff Earlywine and Capt. Dale Appel of the Boone County Water Rescue Team offered their appreciation to C&B Marine Crane Operator Terry Raines, General Manager Ed Lapikas, and Rob Carlisle, president of C&B Marine, for their cooperation and timely commitment in helping all parties get the vehicle out of the water.