Emergency Dive Teams Recover Submerged-Car in Iroquois River –
* It was a long, tiring night for several emergency response teams, but fortuneately no one was found inisde a submerged car in the Iroquois River. An exhausted Ashkum Fire Chief Jeff Glenn told WGFA News Saturday morning between 65-70 responders spent seven hours locating an exspensive car from the murky-waters of the river near L’Erable (Luh-Rab). Iroquois County Sheriff Investigator Randy Eimen (I-men) said the 2007 BMW Sport Utility Vehicle was reported stolen from Indiana. Now, investigators are trying to determine who dumped the SUV into the river Friday night.
Chief Glenn said “you just don’t know if anyone was inside, so you have to react as though there were victims trapped”….Underwater rescue teams from Orland Park, Mokena and Palos Heights were called to assist in the search and recovery. A passerby noticed the submerged vehicle with its lights on around 8:30 Friday night. Ashkum Fire, sheriff’s police and Riverside Ambulance were initially on the scene. Fire department crews from Aroma Park, St. Anne and Watseka joined the effort along with two auto towing services. Glenn utilized the MABAS (Mutual Aid Box Alarm System) to bring in outside dive teams after the car sank and its lights went out.
Glenn said sheriff deputies located fresh tire tracks along a dirt road that led to a once-used boat launch. It’s believed that’s where the car entered the river.
*** cg 2-21-09
