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'Good Samaritan' rescues boy from submerged car in Lincoln County creek

By Tina Terry, wsoctv.com
By Tina Terry, wsoctv.com

LINCOLN COUNTY, N.C. — A 16-year-old boy is in intensive care after troopers said he lost control of his car, and it went airborne and then overturned into a small creek Saturday night in Lincoln County.

Devon Speckman, a sophomore at North Lincoln High School, was driving on Wingate Hill Road when his car flew off the road and rolled several times.

Chuck Earnhardt and his girlfriend drove past just ahead of the crash.

Earnhardt stopped and rushed toward the creek as his girlfriend called 911.

“It was throwing gravel up in the air and I looked in my rear view (mirror and) I didn't see no more lights,” Earnhardt said. "I got down and saw (the) car was hanging out. It was bad when I got down there. It was bad.”

Earnhardt said Speckman’s head was submerged in water up to his shoulders.

“He wasn't breathing when I pulled his head out of the water,” Earnhardt said. “When I pulled it out, he took a real deep breath.”

A firefighter, who was also driving past, stopped and helped other emergency workers find the crash.

(Devon Speckman)

Speckman was flown to the hospital.

Speckman’s parents, Troy and Stacy, who have been at the hospital, are grateful that the “good Samaritan” was in the right place and helped their son.

(Chuck Earnhardt and girlfriend)

"There are no words for how grateful me and my wife are,” Troy Speckman said.

"For him to pass someone at that exact moment, for him to hold his head out of his water and (save) his life. This man saved his life," Stacy Speckman said.

Officials said Speckman is stable, but not conscious.

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