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Driver survives plunge after losing control on the highway south of Campbell River

Vehicle towed from ocean following dramatic rescue
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SUV in the ocean at Oyster Bay south of Campbell River, July 18, 2019. Photo by David Gordon Koch/Campbell River Mirror

An SUV lost control on the Island Highway and ended up in the ocean on Thursday evening at Oyster Bay, just south of Campbell River.

The lone occupant didn’t appear injured but was transported to hospital by ambulance, possibly as a precaution, according to a police officer on-scene.

Police received an emergency call at 8:17 p.m. and said the vehicle travelled perhaps 40 metres and crossed a three-metre embankment of rock armouring.

Lisa Feddersen and Gary Schell of Oyster River witnessed the incident from outside a cabin at Oyster Bay Resorts.

“We seen it come and roll, roll, roll into the water,” Feddersen said.

“It disappeared and we heard a splash, just like a movie,” Schell said.

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Despite barreling through the air, the Honda CR-V ended up floating wheels-down in the water. The occupant was trying to kick his way out, Schell said.

The witnesses said three men rescued the driver by jumping into the water and securing the vehicle with rope before the driver smashed a window.

“They jumped right in the water and asked everybody for ropes… they just held onto the car, it was sinking,” Schell said.

“And then the guy booted out the back window, and then he came out.”

Schell said other witnesses saw the man driving erratically northbound before the incident took place.

By around 10 p.m. a tow truck was fishing the badly damaged vehicle from the water, shutting down traffic in both directions. Traffic was moving freely after 10:30 p.m.


@davidgordonkoch
david.koch@campbellrivermirror.com

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