Oxford family reunited with man who saved them from floodwaters

OXFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — An Oxford mother and her two sons, ages 13 and 11, were reunited with the truck driver who they said saved them from the historic flash flooding on Aug. 18.

“Thank you very much,” Gonxhe Kalici said. “We never really got the chance to thank you. You were there at the right time.”

Tips from News 8 viewers and social media led to Tuesday’s reunion between the family and 27-year-old Ishan Brown.

“[Brown] should really be praised for what he did, and the whole world needs to see that there are still good people out there,” Kalici said.

Brown said he was driving a tanker truck for Kenan Advantage, delivering 84,000 gallons of jet fuel, when he jumped into action against rising floodwater and debris.

“It happened so fast, I wasn’t expecting it,” Brown said.

The rescue happened along Route 67 near the Oxford House Tavern , where the restaurant owner recorded cell phone video of Brown’s effort.

Kalici said the roadway was passable at first, then the flash flood came out of nowhere and up to the windshield of her Audi A4.

“I said to [my sons], ‘Today we’re not dying,’” Kalici said. “I got out of my sunroof, and I was able to pull them both out from the sunroof.”

“I just saw people on top of the car,” Brown said. “I couldn’t really see exactly who or how many there were, and I just came close enough to stop and open the door.”

They said Kalici and kids got into the cab of the truck, then Brown dropped them off down the road to nearby emergency crews.

Brown said he doesn’t usually drive along Route 67, but he’s happy that he did that day.

“I’m glad that I could be able to do good,” Brown said.

It was a reunion weeks in the making, with an everlasting impact.

“We will always be grateful for [you] saving us,” Kalici said.

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