On Friday, May 22, a young male lost control of his car on Gilpin Road and the car plunged into the river. The male and his lone passenger were able to escape the car and swim to shore and call 9-1-1.
“The call came in at about 11:38 on Friday night that a car had gone over the bank and into the river on Gilpin Road,” said Dale Heriot, Grand Forks Fire/Rescue chief.
“The guys got there and the vehicle was completely submerged. The two occupants had got out of the vehicle and were on the river bank when our crews got there.”
Heriot said the crew used their embankment rescue techniques and rescue basket to bring the occupants up to the road, where they were taken by ambulance to the hospital.
Heriot said the vehicle was recovered on Saturday afternoon.
“Mid-Nytes Towing recovered the vehicle,” he said. “We were out there because we had to get a boat in the river to hook a line to the vehicle. We were there for swift water rescue support in the event something didn’t go well.”
Grand Forks RCMP also attended the scene. Cpl. Richard Lanz said that the driver of the vehicle showed signs of alcohol consumption and impairment.
“Due to the injuries, a blood demand was read and blood samples were obtained,” said Lanz. “At this time, the blood samples will be forwarded for analysis and if the blood alcohol reading is over 0.08 then charges of impaired driving causing bodily harm will be forwarded.”
The driver of the vehicle was a 31-year-old Grand Forks male.