NewsLocal News

Actions

Man passes out behind wheel, drives into Fox River

Posted at 7:45 PM, May 02, 2019
and last updated 2019-05-02 20:45:48-04

Waukesha, WI - A medical emergency ended with a driver in the Fox River- it happened Wednesday in Waukesha.

What could have been a deadly water rescue turned out to be just a vehicle recovery after a 65-year-old man lost consciousness while driving, landing in the river.

Mary Jane Sanchez was at the scene and recorded video of the vehicle recovery.

"There was a rescue team that was trying to put chains on the vehicle that was one there," Sanchez said.

Waukesha police explained all this happened after the driver got dizzy near Buckley and Corrina. He then passed out, and ended in the river. The driver was able to pull himself to safety and was later taken to the hospital, but he had to leave his red truck behind.

A dive and water rescue team pulled the waterlogged truck to safety - you can see from the pictures just how muddy and damaged it was after the crash.

Waukesha police say after reviewing more than 8,000 crash reports dating back to 2013 this is only the fourth car to enter the Fox River in a crash.

"We need to be aware of our surroundings because if someone's going into the river they have to cross that walkway, and that could be a danger," Sanchez said.