Justin de Ruyter, Spokane Fire PIO & Sgt. Teresa Fuller, PIO
Thursday, May 2, 2024 at 11:58 a.m.
One male has been transported to an area hospital with life threatening injuries after crashing into the Spokane River this morning. Upriver Drive has now reopened to all traffic.
This morning, May 2, 2024, just after 6:00am, first responders received a call of a vehicle that had crashed into the Spokane River in the area of 4400 E Upriver Dr. Witnesses observed the vehicle floating downstream roughly 1000 feet before resting about six feet underwater.
Crews from Spokane Fire Department water rescue team with support from Spokane Valley Fire Department, Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, AMR and Spokane Police Department responded to assist. Dive teams and drones were among the resources used to attempt a water rescue of the occupant. Patrol officers reported spotting a victim in the water, drifting downstream from the vehicle's location. SFD’s Tower 2 communicated that the victim was trapped beneath the water's surface near the temporary construction bridge just downstream from the vehicle.
Firefighters deployed in kayaks reached the victim and aided Rescue Boat 3 in extracting him at 6:30 a.m. from the water. Once retrieved, the victim was transferred to shore for medical treatment. Subsequently, the victim was rushed to the hospital by AMR in critical condition.
Upriver is now open but SPD’s Major Crimes Unit is still on scene investigating. We’d like to thank the community for their patience this morning as two major east/west routes through Spokane were shut down making for a slow morning commute.
