06/05/2026
At 2:54 AM, Friday, June 5th , 2026, Netawaka Fire was dispatched for a person in the water at US75 at Muddy Creek.
On arrival, flood water was over US75 highway north of the bridge. Two vehicles, a truck with a 5th wheel trailer and a passenger car could be seen in the east ditch. The driver of the car was able to self extricate onto the truck and trailer along with the driver of the truck. Water continued to rise, getting onto the deck of the trailer with the two subjects moving up to the "gooseneck" section of the trailer.
The Jackson County Sheriff's Office was first on scene and was able to make it close enough to confirm there were two known subjects needing assistance. Netawaka Rural Fire District #6, responded as well as Holton Fire from Jackson County. Mutual aid assistance was requested from Nemaha County, with Sabetha Fire responding with their boat from the north. A swiftwater rescue team was also requested from Shawnee County. Soldier Township Fire and Topeka Fire responded with an additional two boats.
The team from Sabetha was able to successfully rescue both victims from the trailer with Topeka Fire personnel assisting Sabetha for the second rescue.
Jackson County EMS was on scene to check both patients once they were out of the water.
Additional resources responded from Brown County as well as multiple law enforcement agencies and KDOT to detour traffic.
US 75 remains closed at this time. Check Kandrive 511, KDOT, for additional updates for US75 reopening after the water recedes and debris can be cleared.
Thank you to all assisting departments and agencies. It goes without saying but we are certainly grateful that both drivers were able to be rescued safely and that resources with the proper training and equipment were able to assist with a best case scenario outcome to this incident.
Netawaka Rural Fire District
