Local man recalls narrowly escaping washed-out road
Courtesy photo - Richard Ledgerman looks at the small portion of his SUV visible above the mud that nearly drowned him as well.
LIND — Richard Ledgerwood said he remembers it all.
His day on Feb. 16 started off in typical fashion; he was on his way to work in Warden. Then suddenly, Ledgerwood found himself in a life-threatening situation.
“I came around the curve at 5:45 in the morning and the road went down underneath me.”
Luckily for him he wasn’t swallowed up in the gapping sinkhole and never to be heard from again.
A picture of the washout that tore out about 30 feet of road and left a hole about 15 feet deep was shown on Spokane TV stations and placed on the front pages of regional newspapers, The Adams County Sheriff’s Office used Ledgerwood’s pictures to warn people about road conditions.
“I remember everything — the ride down as the roadbed turned to mud and the car hit the water — I remember the airbag.” The fast moving water turned the car in a half-circle. “I remember the water coming in the passenger side.”
Fortunately, Ledgerwood was able to unbuckle his seatbelt; and the car’s electronics were still working so he could roll down the window and escape. (He had a hammer behind the seat if he needed it, he said.) Ledgerwood climbed through the window, using the steering wheel as a step up.
Once out of the car he made it onto the rooftop and pulled a small flashlight from his pocket. “I could see the mud bank behind the rig and the rocks on the other bank.”
He wasn’t that far off the bank, he said, close enough to jump, more or less. So Ledgerwood stood on the spare tire mounted on the rear of the car trying to work up the courage to make the leap.
“I had to convince my left hand to let go (of the luggage rack).” He jumped-flopped to the bank, he said, and climbed the 15 feet up the embankment back to the road. “If it wasn’t for the airbag and (the pocket) flashlight, I wouldn’t be here.”
A car was traveling eastbound on the roadway around 6 a.m. and Ledgerwood was able to flag down the driver.
“I told him, ‘the road’s gone,’ and he said, ‘what do you mean?’ He didn’t believe me.” Cell service was unavailable, so the other driver went home to call 911.
As dramatic as it was, Ledgerwood said he wasn’t hurt too badly, although he’s had to have some physical therapy on his shoulder. He tried to go back to work, but had to take some time off.
The most difficult part of the harrowing experience, Ledgerwood said, is the recollection of what happened and the thought of what could’ve happened.
He recovered what was left of his vehicle — somebody apparently tried but failed to steal the tires — a few days later. The mud had covered the entire car, and it took about three hours to dig down to it.
Ledgerwood views his narrow escape as though something or someone was watching over him. “There are no bad days now,” he said. “Kind of makes me wonder what He (GOD) has in store for me.”