Car and driver rescued from river
Polson rescue teams removed a car from the Flathead River near the Travis Dolphin Dog Park Sunday morning, after rescuing its driver the night before. (Polson City Fire photo)
Polson City Fire was dispatched at 1 a.m. Sunday morning to a report of a vehicle in the water at 7th Ave. and Kerr Dam Rd., where the dog park is located.
Crews arrived at the scene and found a vehicle had missed the curve and landed about 100 feet off shore in the Flathead River in around 15 feet of water. A good Samaritan had jumped in and rescued the occupant of the vehicle with help from the Polson Police Department.
Crews from Lake County Search and Rescue waded out to confirm no one else was in the car. The single occupant was hoisted up the steep embankment to the waiting ambulance and transported to the hospital.
The teams reconvened at 9 a.m. to remove the vehicle from the water with the help of a drone and diver. The vehicle was safely removed with no issues.
According to Police Chief George Simpson, intoxication is suspected and the incident remains under investigation.
Lake County Dispatch, Lake County OEM, Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Tribal Police, Polson Ambulance, and Draggin' Wagon were also instrumental in recovery efforts.