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SALT LAKE CITY — A man was hospitalized in serious condition after being pulled from a car in the Jordan River early Sunday morning.
The man, whose name has not been released but who is described as in his late 20s, was driving west on 500 North just before 4 a.m. when his vehicle entered the river near Redwood Road, said Jasen Asay of the Salt Lake City Fire Department.
"We were told that the vehicle was probably traveling at a high rate of speed, so it did create a loud noise when it left the road and went into the water," Asay said. "People in the area heard it and went out and saw the car in the water and that's when they called us."
Asay said the vehicle came to a stop upside down and partially submerged in the river. Crews responded quickly to free the man, who was in danger of hypothermia. The temperature outside was 10 degrees at the time of rescue.
"Within 5 minutes of arrival, our water rescue team had extricated (the man) from the vehicle," Asay said.
He estimated the man was in the water between 10 and 15 minutes.
The man was transported to a local hospital with injuries to his legs.
"He was conscious the whole time," Asay said. "We don’t think he ever lost consciousness."
The Salt Lake Police Department is investigating the accident. Asay said at this time it is unclear what caused the man to leave the road and enter the river.
"From what we saw when we were there, we didn’t have any idea of what caused it," he said.
Firefighters, Gold Cross Ambulance and the Salt Lake City Police Department were all at the scene. Asay said it was a "great job of teamwork" that led to the quick rescue.
More information will be provided as it becomes available.
Contributing: Nkoyo Iyamba
