South Haven Man Rescued from Sinking Truck in Kalamazoo River After Medical Emergency
A harrowing scene unfolded near Blue Star Highway and Washington Street in Douglas, where a 55-year-old South Haven man narrowly escaped death thanks to the quick action of nearby Samaritans after his truck plunged into the Kalamazoo River. The Douglas Police Department, through an investigation still in progress, suggests the incident, occurred around 12:40 p.m. Thursday, arose from a medical emergency experienced by the driver, leading to the collision with several objects, including a utility pole, before the vehicle found its watery berth. WZZM13[1] provided details from Douglas Police Chief Steve Kent on the initial findings.
While video recorded by an onlooker captured the dramatic rescue as the truck, its cab flooding and sinking, floated down the river, good Samaritans didn't hesitate to spring into action. Navigating a nearby boat to reach the submerging vehicle, they shattered the rear window with a fire extinguisher. Stared down by the murky pull of the river's current, the rescuers were able to pull the disoriented driver to safety moments before the truck descended into the river's depths. "Instinct kicked in," witness Jerry Donovan said, as per WOODTV[2], highlighting the peril under the bridge and admiring the rescuer's resolve. Police Chief Steve Kent lauded the Samaritan's timely intervention in statements obtained by media sources.
After his escape, the driver was transported to Holland Community Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, as reported by MLive[3]. The Douglas Police Department's Corporal Lori Warsen was among the first responders, arriving to find chaos wrought by the sheared utility pole and its dangling lines. Officers on the scene collaborated with the public in orchestrating the rescue, which also resulted in minor injuries for one of the rescuers, who later sought treatment for an ankle injury with a private vehicle.
Though shaken, the collective efforts by civilian responders were pivotal in the prevention of what could have been a tragic outcome. As the truck submerged, their actions stood in defiance of the river's indifference, their humanity the only anchor in the swell of unfolding disaster. Austin Waalkes, one of the good Samaritans, reflected the unified sentiment in an interview with WZZM13[4], stating, "If I was in the same scenario, I wish someone would do the same thing for me." Chief Kent expressed his amazement at the fortuitous presence of those who acted as the driver's lifeline, agreeing that the situation "would have ended tragically" if not for their intervention.