Cedar Rapids Weather
Friends: Flood Victim Made Lifesaving 911 CallKCCI.com
ALTOONA, Iowa - Friends of a teenager who died in Wednesday's flash flooding in Altoona said the 911 call she made helped save their lives.
Jessica Webb, 16, was part of a group driving to a friend's house in Mitchellville when the flood swept their vehicle into Mud Creek. She was able to call 911, but was carried away in the strong current. Emily Browning, 17, was also part of the group. "There were three cars. Eleven people could have lost their lives and if it wasn't for Jessie, who knows how many people would be gone." She said the water came at them in the blink of an eye. "I got a breath in when the water first started coming and I got another breath before I was completely under," she said. Webb's friend Kaity Danley said they stood and waited as rescue crews searched for Webb's body. "Waiting for it was horrifying," she said. "You could just trust her with anything and she was honest," said Webb's friend, Meagan Morrison. "She always liked to have fun. She never gave up on anything," said friend Courtney Fiscel. "She had a real hard head and she loved to live life." "That's Jessie. She would do anything for anybody. She would put anyone before herself," said Danley. Browning said the friends were just enjoying their last few days of summer. "The truth of the matter is, it was a freak accident. Nobody wanted it. Nobody," she said. "The cops tried to say we tried to get in the water on our own. No. we didn't want to be in there. We didn't want to be in that river. Who would want to be in that position? Nobody." She said no one should be pointing fingers in the wake of Webb's death. "All of us hurt and I don't want anybody to say it was anybody else's fault," Browning said. She said all of them were fortunate to be in the position with Jessica Webb, because she is the one who saved their lives. "We're not going to let her memory go," Browning said. "We're not going to let her go." Jessica's funeral is set for 10 a.m. Saturday at Grace Church in Des Moines. More Good Stuff |
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