Cincinnati Woman Searches for Mystery Hero Who Saved Her Life

Jacqueline Rhodes thought she was going to drown when her car slid off the road and dropped into a Cincinnati creek on May 19. Then a stranger's voice cut through the darkness, and everything changed.

The rain was pounding down around 8:30 p.m. near the Kennedy Avenue exit when Rhodes lost control. Water rushed into her vehicle as the front end sank beneath the surface.

Rhodes stayed conscious but couldn't escape. Her driver's side door wouldn't budge as the water level climbed higher with each passing second.

That's when she heard him. "Are you okay? Can you get out? Are you hurt?" a man called from above.

Rhodes told him she was stuck. The stranger calmly guided her to try the passenger door instead, then grabbed her arms as she forced it open.

He dragged her across the top of her car on her stomach, pulling her away from the rising water to safety. Rhodes walked away without serious injuries, but the man's quick thinking likely saved her life.

The stranger stayed with Rhodes until her ride arrived. Then he disappeared without leaving his name or number.

Sunny's Take

Rhodes now describes her rescuer as about 5 feet 7 inches tall with salt and pepper or grayish hair. It's not much to go on, but she's determined to find him.

"If that guy wasn't there, I would not have been able to get out," Rhodes said. She wants him to know how grateful she is.

The terrifying experience reminded Rhodes that good people still show up when it matters most. Somewhere in Cincinnati, a humble hero went home that rainy night without fanfare or recognition, just knowing he did the right thing.

Rhodes hopes her story will help track him down so she can finally say the words he deserves to hear: thank you for saving my life.