Thread: OK - SUV plunges 80 feet into frozen river

This is an amazing rescue. Watch the video on the right at the sight closely.

Three People Dead, Five Rescued After SUV Plunges Into River Near Miami, Oklahoma

NewsOn6.com

MIAMI, Oklahoma -- Three people are dead after an SUV plunged into the Spring River from Interstate 44 early Thursday. Five other victims were rescued.

The westbound lanes of I-44 on the Will Rogers Turnpike east of Miami were closed while the rescue took place.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says the Chevy Avalanche, which is called both an SUV and a pickup by Chevrolet, was westbound when it ran off the bridge into the frozen river at about 6:20 a.m.

"They hit probably in a more shallow area, but that's all frozen water there," said News On 6 pilot Will Kavanagh, at the scene in SkyNews 6.

Ottawa County Sheriff Terry Durborow says the truck jumped a guard rail on Interstate 44 and dropped 80 feet into the river below.

"We don't know all the details, but the way the snow has been plowed up against the guard rail is almost like a ramp," Kavanagh said.

The Miami Fire Department lowered a basket over the bridge to the vehicle which landed upright. A dive team wearing special cold-water gear had to get into the water to pull the victims out. They used a small boat to help reach the vehicle.

The Miami Emergency Coordinator tells News On 6 three people died in the crash Thursday morning.

Several of the divers and other rescuers had to be treated for hypothermia and exposure.

OHP was told six people were on top of the vehicle and two were inside the vehicle when rescue crews arrived on scene, but they are still trying to confirm the exact amount.

Medical helicopters took several victims from the crash to hospitals in Joplin, Missouri. Three accident victims were taken to Freeman Health System in Joplin, according to a hospital public information officer.

NewsOn6.com will have more information about the survivors' conditions as it becomes available.

Officials plan a 3 p.m. news conference to release more details. [NewsOn6.com is planning to livestream that news conference]

OHP says the westbound lanes remain closed. Westbound traffic out of Missouri on I-44 is being diverted to state Highway 71 south to I-40 and then west.

Eastbound traffic on the Will Rogers Turnpike was not affected.

http://www.news9.com/Global/story.asp?S=13962302

That's a lot of people in one vehicle and they think there could be more?