Photo: Lincoln Police Department
(Lincoln, NE) -- A man is rescued from a sinking truck by two onlookers and a police officer.
Lincoln Police say on Saturday afternoon, the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office and Southeast Fire & Rescue were called to a rescue alarm near 75th & Badger Rd. Police say information to dispatch indicated a party suffered a medical episode and their vehicle was submerged in a nearby pond. LPD says an area resident, 35 year old Jordan Kurtzer, was driving in the area and observed a large splash in the pond. Police say he then noticed the partially submerged truck.
LPD says Jordan entered the lake with another man, who police have not identified, to help the person in the truck. Investigators say Jordan swam to the truck but found the doors were locked. Police say the other man found a tire iron in the bed of the truck, which Jordan used to break the back window. Police say Jordan entered the truck through the window and unlocked the rear door. After opening the door, investigators say the truck began to sink again. LPD says Jordan was able to unbuckle the driver who was conscious, but non-responsive, and pull him into the backseat.
Police say the men found life jackets in the back seat, so Jordan and the other man wrapped each of the driver’s arms in a jacket to make him more buoyant. Investigators say when LPD Sgt. Tu Tran arrived, he removed his protective vest and equipment belt, and swam out to the truck. Police say Sgt. Tran was able to reach the bottom of the pond near the back of the truck, so Jordan and the second man assisted in floating the still unresponsive driver to Sgt. Tran.
LPD says the group then worked to move the driver to the shore and to responding medical personnel. The driver is expected to recover.