SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Firefighters rescued a man after he drove his car into a river Sunday.
The man, described as in his late 20s, was driving around 4 a.m. when his vehicle entered the river, said firefighter Jasen Asay of the Salt Lake City Fire Department.
“We were told that the vehicle was probably traveling at a high rate of speed, so it did create a loud noise when it left the road and went into the water,” firefighter Asay said. “People in the area heard it and went out and saw the car in the water and that’s when they called us.”
Firefighter Asay said the vehicle came to a stop upside down and was partially submerged in the river, KSL reports. Crews responded quickly to free the man, who was in danger of hypothermia, according to the report. The temperature outside was 10 degrees at the time of rescue, according to the report.
“Within 5 minutes of arrival, our water rescue team had extricated (the man) from the vehicle,” firefighter Asay said.
The man was in the water between 10 and 15 minutes and was transported to a local hospital with leg injuries, according to the report.
“He was conscious the whole time,” firefighter Asay said. “We don’t think he ever lost consciousness.”
Firefighter Asay said at this time it is unclear what caused the man to leave the road and enter the river.
“From what we saw when we were there, we didn’t have any idea of what caused it,” he said.
Firefighter Asay said it was a “great job of teamwork” that led to the quick rescue, according to the report.
Photo Salt Lake City Fire Department