Community gathers in prayer for girl after she was trapped in creek culvert

Last Friday night, amid the dusty, sun-soaked Gainesville summer league ball fields, where generations have poured their hearts into the game, Gainesville First Baptist Church Pastor Mason Eslinger led a powerful group prayer for fifth grade student Scarlett Hall. 

With players, parents and community members raising their eyes and hearts toward the sky, prayers were also echoed in group gatherings held in Ava and Mansfield, and by thousands more who have been moved to pray after learning of the girl’s tragic accident last week when she was swept into and trapped underwater inside a creek bridge culvert. The former Gainesville Elementary student remains at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Department said in a Facebook post that last Thursday, June 19, the department was notified that a girl who was swimming in a creek on PP Highway, southwest of Ava in Douglas County, had been sucked into a bridge culvert and had not made it out the other side. Witnesses on scene said Scarlett was trapped underwater inside the enclosed tube. 

Douglas County Deputy Jesse Three-Eagles responded, along with the Goodhope Fire Department, Cox Ambulance and numerous local citizens, the DCSD says.

Rescuers arrived on scene and attempted to reach Scarlett through the culvert on the downstream side of the bridge. At the same time, off-duty Ozark County dispatcher Branetta McNece attempted to plug the culvert on the upstream side to cut off the water flow for those downstream.

McNece was partially swept into the culvert and began yelling for help. Deputy Three-Eagles grabbed her and partially pulled her up before the suction drug him into the culvert too, where he collided with Scarlett, who was pinned inside the tube by debris. The collision knocked Scarlett loose, resulting in both her and Deputy Three-Eagles pushing through to the other side of the culvert into the creek. McNece was also sucked into the culvert but made it safely to the other side.

Deputy Three Eagles and first responders immediately began life-saving measures on Scarlett. She was airlifted to an area hospital in critical condition and later transferred to St. Louis Children’s Hospital where she remains. 

She is the daughter of Clint Hall, who served as Gainesville High School Principal from 2021-23, and his wife, Shelby, who has been posting periodic updates on her Facebook page. The latest, at the time this edition went to print, was shared Tuesday morning:

“Scarlett had a CT scan yesterday. The results showed that she has suffered brain damage due to lack of oxygen though for specifics she will need an MRI in about one week. The swelling was still present though beyond the peak so they believe she will survive!” her mom’s post said. “Today they are removing many medicines because the echo of her heart was ‘quite good.’ No more blood pressure medicine! They will maintain her anti-seizure medicines and remove the EEG electrodes to give her skin a break. This will also give her brain another day of recovery before weaning anti-seizure medicine.

“They are transitioning from Pedialyte to formula for feeding. She is still on the ventilator, but last night she began initiating her own breaths as well.  Today we are praying for continued reduction in brain swelling and no seizures.

“We are grateful for the continued prayers from across the nation and world for our sweet girl. We believe God is moving in this hospital! We are taking each of her small miracles she receives and stacking them on top of one another. The healing is continuing to come! Our support network has been amazing and has allowed us to focus fully on Scarlett and her care. Thank you so much! Mark 5:41”

Although Clint and Shelby say they are only asking for prayers, area residents have organized two ways to financially donate to the family as they navigate this difficult time. Donations can be made to any HomePride Bank location or through Venmo, with the account name “Hall-Family-Fund.” 

Both Deputy Three-Eagles and Dispatcher McNece also sustained injuries after being sucked into the culvert and were transported to the hospital for treatment. They were released the following day. The day after that, McNece attended an honorary dinner that the Bakersfield Fire Department hosted in honor of all of the emergency workers who helped with the deadly March 14 tornado in Bakersfield. 

At the gathering, Bakersfield Fire Chief Greg Watts handed McNece a plaque, saying that the department had specifically chosen to honor her prior to any knowledge of the creek incident in which she stepped in to try and help Scarlett. He said her dispatching efforts during the tornado and her brave attempt to save Scarlett in the creek that day are just two examples of how she’s always ready to boldly step up to help others, despite the danger she may be putting herself in. Ozark County is lucky to have someone as dedicated and selfless as McNece behind the radio.