Off-duty firefighters rescue man after car lands in South Santiam River
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- A man was saved from the South Santiam River on Saturday after his car went into the water.
According to Sweet Home Fire District, the man had been driving east on Highway 20 when his car left the road, going 30 feet down an embankment before hitting a tree and stopping in chest-high water.
The passenger compartment was heavily damaged and water was rushing into the car, officials said.
Two off-duty firefighters from Crook County Fire came across the crash, officials said, and the pair jumped into action working to free the man from the car and get him back to shore.
Eventually, crews responded and set up a rope system to bring the man safely up to the road. The man had non-threatening injuries but was still taken to a local hospital for further evaluation, authorities said.
Sweet Home Fire said they don't usually encourage bystanders to put themselves in harm's way, but they are thankful that the rescuers were able to save the man from further harm.