Man Rescues Driver Sitting On His Sinking Car In Sacramento River
By Rebekah Gonzalez
March 12, 2021
A man saved a driver's life after he drove into the Sacramento River on Thursday, March 11, reports the California Highway Patrol.
A 67-year-old Oakland man was driving towards the intersection of Twin Cities and River roads on Thursday morning when he had a medical emergency, according to CHP officers.
The man then drove through the intersection and flew into the Sacramento River, reports FOX40.
As his car began to sink, the man was able to climb out to the top of his vehicle. However, he did not know how to swim and began yelling out to shore for help, says the CHP.
That's when 39-year-old Chris Arias from Antioch came to the man's rescue.
Officers say Arias saw the man's vehicle go into the water and immediately jumped into the river to help him.
"I'm just glad I had it in me to do it," Arias told FOX40. "I have never been around that situation."
The driver held onto Arias' back while he swam them both to shore.
He told officers he would have died if wasn't for Arias' help.
Keoua Medeiros was able to capture the incident on video.
"When you see another human being in need in a time like this, your instinct should always automatically be to help. Someone has a grandpa or brother or a family member that’s alive right now because of Chris," he told FOX40.
The driver did not have any injuries from the crash but was taken to a local hospital as a precaution, FOX40 reported.