Loyal Dog That Refused to Leave Owner’s Side After Deadly Crash Comforted by Fire Marshall
Everything changed for a dog named Lucky on May 17 in Lyon County, Kentucky. He was in the car with his owner, who was driving on the I-24, when the accident occurred.
According to WPSD-TV, a driver from Vergennes, Illinois, was driving a motorhome pulling a trailer and veered off the road.
In trying to get back into the lane, he overdid it and ended up hitting an embankment and flipping. The driver was killed on impact, according to WENK.
In the midst of the chaos, Lucky stayed by his owner’s side. The man was trapped as a result of the wreck, but Lucky wasn’t going anywhere.
The Kuttawa Fire Department later posted on Facebook, explaining that the dog’s presence likely helped the man stay calm while he was extricated from the wreck.
“Lucky wouldn’t budge from the side of one of the occupants during the extrication of the victim,” the post read.
“Lucky had no indications of being hurt and we believe played a critical part in helping keep the victim calm and kept him company while we were freeing the victim.
“Once the victim was freed we were able to get Lucky out of the wreckage he was taken away from the scene.
An employee with the Lyon County State Highway captured a moment after the three victims had been rescued and taken to the hospital.
He sent the photo to WPSD’s Leah Shields in hopes that it would encourage others as it encouraged him.
“We had a terrible accident on I-24 eastbound in Lyon County this morning,” he wrote. “One fatality.”
“Our state Fire Marshall and Lyon County Native, Bill Compton, while attending to one of the trapped survivors, comforted and cared for the man’s dog that wouldn’t leave his side.
“Once the man was airlifted and the adrenaline began to wear off, I snapped this pic of an exhausted, emotional, and dedicated Bill Compton, resting and caring for the dog. It touched me and I felt I must share it.”
The fire department was quick to point out that this moment of rest only took place once all life-saving efforts were completed.
“What we think is also important to point out is what is not depicted in the photo,” the department shared. “What you don’t see is firefighters from Eddyville, Kuttawa, and Princeton Fire Departments and Stinnett’s Wrecker Service working tirelessly to free those trapped inside the wreckage.
“What the photo doesn’t show are the EMT’s, Paramedics, Flight Medics, Flight Nurses, Pilots from Lyon and Caldwell Co EMS and Air Evac attending to those victims and doing everything they possibly could to save their lives.
“What the photo doesn’t show is the Kentucky State Police, Kentucky State Police CVE, and Lyon Co. Sheriff’s Department securing the scene, personal effects and trying to determine why what happened did happen.
“What the photo doesn’t show is the Kentucky Department of Transportation Lyon County working tirelessly to reroute traffic around the wreck scene and make sure that traffic continued to flow so other accidents didn’t occur and people continued on to their destinations.
“What the photo doesn’t show is the hard work of our dispatchers/telecommunicators at KSP Post 1 who are our lifeline and assure that we get what we need.”
They went on to point out how important everyone was in dealing with the fatal crash and how the rescue had been a team effort.
“The individual in the photo with Lucky the dog wants all to know how humbled he is to be allowed to be part of the TEAM,” the post clarified.
While the current condition of Lucky’s owner is unknown, family members have come forward to take in the dog. Thanks to everyone involved in this rescue — even the dog — for doing their best to keep everyone safe.
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