Dec. 20, 2022 Westerly firefighters used rescue boats to save an elderly man after he drove into the Pawcatuck River Monday night.
By Erica Moser The Day, New London, Conn. (TNS) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Dec. 20—STONINGTON — Westerly firefighters rescued one man after the SUV he was in drove off Coggswell Street and into the Pawcatuck River Monday night.
The incident began at 8:25 p.m. when Stonington police received a report of a vehicle having driven into the river. It then floated a short distance down the river to a position just north of the Route 1 bridge.
Westerly firefighters could then be seen bringing the man ashore next to Bridge restaurant in Westerly about 9 p.m.
Westerly Police Chief Paul Gingerella said the man was conscious and talking as he was being loaded into the ambulance to got to the hospital.
He said the SUV began to fill up with water once it came to rest. Firefighters broke the rear window and pulled the man out as it was sinking. Firefighters could not get the man in the small inflatable boat but held onto him as it made its way the short distance to the dock.
Pawcatuck firefighters, Westerly Ambulance, Stonington Police and Westerly Police all responded to the incident. Stonington Police will now investigate how the SUV got into the water.
Gingerella said an attempt will be made to remove the SUV on Tuesday.