Ambulance chief called
for different kind of rescue

Travis Parmley is accustomed to responding to emergencies in which patients must be rescued from crashed vehicles, but a call at 7:03 p.m. Saturday didn’t involve the usual rushed trip to a hospital.

Parmley was called not in his normal job as director of the county’s emergency medical services but in his off-duty role as owner of Rhino Car and Truck Wash on the north edge of Marion.

A garage door at the exit of the automatic car wash had descended after a customer entered but refused to go back up to let the customer drive away after washing had concluded.

A daughter called county dispatchers and told them her parents couldn’t get out of the car wash.

Sheriff’s deputy Kaylan Miles and Marion officer Zach Hudlin both went to the car wash.

After conferring with Parmley by phone, they were able to see the customer safely exit the building.