CLARKSTON – Rescue crews were called for a car and person in the water at Chief Timothy Campground west of Clarkston early Monday morning.
According to a social media post to the Asotin County Fire District #1’s Facebook page, they and Lewiston Fire ambulance and rescue crews were dispatched at 1:45 a.m. Monday morning to a report of a car in the water.
Witnesses said the car had been running through the campground at a high rate of speed and eventually ran through a camping area and into the water. It was unclear at first if the driver of the submerged vehicle got out of the car.
When deputies arrived they could hear someone yelling out in the water. The Facebook post explains the possibly intoxicated driver had escaped the car and swam to the Highway 12 side of the river, but would not get out of the water. People in a private boat threw the man a floatation device. Asotin County Fire District rescue boat arrived and located the car. Witnesses reported no other person had been seen in the car
Rescue crew members were able to grab the driver as he was getting tired in the water. He was transported to the hospital to be checked for injuries
There were no other reported injuries. Asotin County Sheriff’s Deputies are investigating this incident
