Dramatic video captures water rescue from car that crashed into McKenzie River

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Stunning video of a car that crashed into the McKenzie River shows the exact moment the driver was rescued from the wreckage Wednesday night.

Lane County deputies and local fire crews responded to the crash site off milepost 31 of the McKenzie Highway, where the driver was pinned inside the car as it tipped toward the rapids, around 8 p.m.

“The response was complicated by high water, darkness, and the precarious location of the vehicle, which was stuck on a rock ledge in the middle of the McKenzie River,” according to the Lane County Sheriff’s Office.

Officials used a drone to get a better view of the person trapped in the car while a search and rescue team prepared for a rescue swimmer to enter the water. Meanwhile, deputies called the U.S. Coast Guard for a helicopter.

In the video, the rescue swimmer can be seen getting lowered into the vehicle to grab the driver and swim them away from the crash site. Once on land, the driver was taken to a local hospital.

It is not yet clear whether the driver suffered any injuries. The cause of the crash also remains unknown, though Oregon State Police is investigating.