Heroism In Harford Flood: 2 Residents Win Carnegie Medals

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — The Carnegie Hero Foundation has recognized two Harford County residents, one who died during the 2018 flash flood in Bel Air, for their acts of heroism during the extreme weather event. They risked their lives trying to save the life of a stranger, according to a statement from Harford County announcing the award.

Kyle Bowman of Aberdeen and Melissa Anne Lehew of Darlington were on their way home from the store around 6 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 31, 2018, when they saw a car stuck on the MD 136/Calvary Road bridge at James Run Road and risked their lives to try to help.

Lehew, 34, died in the process.

Related:

• Boyfriend Of Flood Victim Melissa Lehew Found Her: Report
• 1 Dead In Harford Flood, Search Underway For More Victims: Maryland State Police
• At Least 25 Water Rescues In Harford County Reported During Storm

Industrialist-philanthropist Andrew Carnegie started the awards program in 1904 to recognize people who risk their lives to an extraordinary degree to save the lives of others.

To be eligible, a person must have acted without any responsibility toward the person whose life was in danger, and the act must have happened within two years of the nomination.

Here is why Bowman and Lehew are being recognized, according to the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission's writeup with the Dec. 16 announcement of their award:

During heavy rain, motorist Daniel E. Samis, 67, was stranded in his car on a flooded section of road Aug. 31, 2018, in Bel Air, Md.

Driving nearby, 31-year-old Kyle Bowman, a tree trimmer from Aberdeen, Md., and his partner, Melissa Anne Lehew, 34, of Darlington, Md., saw Samis’s car and stopped at the scene.

Bowman backed his pickup truck to the water's edge about 100 feet away and, after tying a rope to his truck’s rear, waded toward Samis’s car holding the other end of the rope. Lehew, also holding to the rope, followed. Shortly, Lehew lost her footing and fell into the water. Bowman went to her and helped her to her feet, but they became separated. Lehew was carried downstream by the current and away from the scene, drowning. Samis’s car, with him inside, was also washed away and his body was later recovered from his car. Bowman exited the water safely.

There are 18 recipients of the Carnegie Medal for 2019, including three who are deceased.

Each awardee or the recipient's surviving family members receive a grant to honor them for their heroism.