Man Rescued After Vehicle Plunges Into Fox River

An elderly man was rescued from frigid waters after the minivan he was driving plunged into the Fox River near Baxter Street and Corrina Boulevard at 11:19 a.m. Wednesday.

The cause of the accident remains under investigation and authorities are not releasing the driver's name at this time. The man's exact condition is unknown at the time. The man, who is in his early 80s, was transported to Waukesha Memorial Hospital and was conscious and alert after being rescued.

Waukesha Fire Lt. Steve Clementi said when the firefighters arrived at the van, which was about 50 feet from shore, the man had a 6-inch air space. Firefighters smashed out the window, grabbed the man and took him to shore.

The Waukesha Police Department's OptiCop caught the entire rescue on camera. The Waukesha Police Department provided video footage of the rescue operation.

The firefighters pulled the man out of the water within about 10 minutes from the time the man drove the minivan into the river. The fire department spends time in the beginning of , Battalion Chief Dick Neustaedter said.

“They knew it was a water rescue and they were prepared to jump in right away,” the battalion chief said. “These guys were so quick in getting their rescue suits on, we were able to pull the person out right away. They get here right away – they are ready to go.”

The rescue was relatively simple, Neustaedter said, because the fire department has the right equipment.

“Just as the van was setting down to the bottom of the river, they broke open the back window and pulled the driver out,” he said.

The driver was taken by ambulance to the hospital for observation, Neustaedter said. It takes only a matter of minutes before hypothermia sets in during cold water situations.

“Fortunately this gentleman was conscious and alert the whole time,” Neustaedter said.

The driver did not say a lot during the rescue.

“Just that he was cold and wet,” said Neustaedter, who also mentioned the man told the firefighters he had hit the gas instead of the brake.