Thread: NY Elba man rescues driver, who then flees scene

Elba man rescues driver, who then flees scene
Monday, May 25, 2009 12:52 PM EDT

BARRE — Orleans County sheriff’s deputies continue to seek the identity of the driver of a submerged vehicle, who was rescued by a passerby from Elba and then fled the scene last week.

Michael L. Riner, 37, of Elba was driving south on Transit Road, near the Genesee-Orleans border, at 11 a.m. Thursday when he observed a vehicle stopped on the side of the road, deputies said.

A woman was observed screaming and pointing to the drainage ditch along the roadway. Upon investigation, Riner observed a second vehicle (a 1996 Plymouth Suburban) in the drainage ditch and partially submerged in water. A male individual was trapped inside.

Riner climbed down to the car and smashed out the rear window with a hammer, thus freeing the trapped occupant, deputies said. The unidentified man then climbed up to the roadway and ran from the scene, heading south on Transit Road. At this point, the unidentified female returned to her car and left the scene as well.

Riner told Deputy A.L. Jenks that, moments later, a red Ford pickup truck came by the scene and one its six male occupants climbed down into the ditch and removed the license plate from the submerged vehicle. The man then returned to the truck, which then left the scene.

Sheriff’s deputies are exploring the possibility that the unidentified driver’s immigration status is in question, which could explain why he was reluctant to wait for law enforcement officials to arrive and file an accident report.

http://www.thedailynewsonline.com/artic ... 895971.txt

Now that's gratitude... NOT! Hope the VIN leads them to the people involved.