Flora S. McKinley, 63, housewife, saved Johanna I. Smith, 33, from drowning, Tillamook, Oregon, September 25, 1958. When Mrs. Smith swerved her small two-door coupe to avoid a collision, the automobile plunged into the Trask River 40 feet from a boat storage building and slowly sank with its front end 25 feet from the steep bank. Mrs. McKinley was attracted and, although not in good health, decided to go to the aid of Mrs. Smith, who had been trapped inside the coupe as water entered it through an open window. Fearing to jump from the bank because of submerged rocks, Mrs. McKinley ran approximately 400 feet, passing through the storage building and onto a floating walk which extended from it to near the sunken automobile. Although somewhat winded, Mrs. McKinley jumped into the water and swam 10 feet to the coupe, which rested in an upright position on the sloping river bottom. After submerging herself twice in water eight feet deep, Mrs. McKinley located the door handle but could not turn it. She then surfaced briefly, submerged again, and pulled forcibly on the handle, causing the coupe to tilt slightly toward her. Returning to the surface, Mrs. McKinley swam to the other side. After submerging to open the door and again to remove a loose seat cushion, Mrs. McKinley lowered herself alongside the coupe and stood on the river bottom. Reaching into the automobile, she grasped Mrs. Smith, who was unconscious, and pulled her through the doorway. Mrs. McKinley returned to the surface, holding to Mrs. Smith but unable to lift her head above water. By then Mrs. McKinley’s husband and another man had reached the scene in a motorboat. They removed Mrs. Smith from the water, and Mrs. McKinley climbed onto the floating walk. Mrs. Smith was hospitalized a week and recovered.
44516-4312Flora S. Mckinley
Tillamook, OR