DOUGLAS, Mich. — A month after a truck driver crashed into a power pole and drove his truck into the Kalamazoo River, the Village of Douglas honored the people who came to his rescue. Six of the rescuers attended Monday nights meeting to receive their award.
"We all kind of ran outside, looked and the truck was already in the river," said one of rescuers, Maxwell Klemm.
A calm afternoon in Douglas turned chaotic on August 15 when a 55-year-old South Haven man in a pickup truck hit a power pole along blue star highway. He then went down Washington Street before crashing into the Kalamazoo River. Nearby strangers including Klemm and his friend helped rescue the man out of his truck.
"He asked if we should take a boat. I'm like, absolutely, let's go. So we just hopped right in, and we peeled over there as quickly as possible," said Klemm.
The boaters used a fire extinguisher to smash out the back window of the truck to rescue the driver.
"I don't even know that there is any thinking at all involved. I mean, it was just such a spur of the moment decision, but it was precious, precious seconds that we would have been wasting thinking about it, I guess," said Klemm.
On Monday, the City of Douglas held its regular city council meeting where six of the helpers were honored with Good Samaritan awards. The truck driver had no life-threatening injuries. He and his family were also at Monday's meeting to thank everyone. The Douglas Police Department told 13 ON YOUR SIDE that without those helpers, the man likely wouldn't have made it. Klemm urges people to be Good Samaritans whenever they get the chance.
"Just lend a helping hand whenever you you know, feel that you you can, you know, because that's what makes a community like this so great. Like you know, everyone knows everyone, and everyone's willing to lend a helping hand," said Klemm.