DOUGLAS, MI (WHTC-AM/FM, Aug. 16, 2024) – A 55-year-old South Haven man is expected to recover after crashing his pickup truck into the Kalamazoo River near Douglas on Thursday afternoon.
First responders were dispatched to the area of Blue Star Highway and Washington Avenue at 12:42 PM. When they arrived, they found a large utility pole sheared off, taking down a number of utility lines onto the highway and an adjacent non-motorized path.
After securing the area, Allegan County Sheriff’s Deputies and Douglas Police Officers went down to the riverside, where they found the pickup floating and starting to sink into the river. A number of private citizens had converged, and one of them offered a pontoon boat to transport the responders to the sinking vehicle.
A bystander was able to smash the rear window of the truck, which caused the vehicle to sink, and all on hand were then able to pull the unnamed driver out. After everyone was taken back to the shore, the motorist was transported to Holland Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. A bystander suffered a minor ankle injury and sought his own care, while none of the other first responders were hurt.
Douglas Police Chief Steven Kent reported that alcohol was not a factor in the incident, but gave no other details as to the circumstances that led to the vehicle smashing the utility pole and going into the river, as an investigation into the matter continues.
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