DOUGLAS, Mich. — The Douglas Police are providing findings from their initial investigation of a man who drove his truck into the Kalamazoo River and was rescued by good Samaritans.
Douglas Police Chief Steve Kent told 13 ON YOUR SIDE that the initial findings from their investigation point to the driver having a medical emergency prior to driving into the river.
The incident happened around 12:40 p.m. Thursday afternoon when the driver of the truck hit a power pole, went off the road and onto Washington Street and then into the Kalamazoo River near the Blue Star Highway bridge, Deputy Fire Chief of the Saugatuck Township Fire Department Chris Mantels said.
Austin Waalkes and Maxwell Klemm saw the incident as it was happening and jumped into a boat at a nearby business to help the driver. The two took the boat to the submerging truck and Klemm used a fire extinguisher to break out the back window of the truck to rescue the driver.
When asked if the situation could have ended differently had it not been for the civilians who jumped in to help, the Douglas Police Chief said, "Absolutely, would have ended tragically." Adding that, "[it's] just amazing that it happened the way it did."
Waalkes added, "If I was in the same scenario, I wish someone would do the same thing for me."
While the driver of the truck was just shaken up and had no injuries, minor injuries were sustained by the boaters during the rescue, but they are doing fine now.
13 ON YOUR SIDE obtained video of the driver being rescued from Ethan Barde that you can view here:
The crash remains under investigation and the Douglas Police plan to interview additional witnesses on Monday.