Gators Prevented FL Rescue Crew From Saving Man After Truck Plunged Into Canal: Police

VENICE, FL — Two large gators in the water prevented Venice Fire Rescue swimmers from saving a 19-year-old man after his truck plunged into a canal on Sunday morning, officials said.

The driver was later identified as Fredy Chavez Sanchez, Venice police wrote in a Facebook post.

Police and fire rescue units were dispatched to the area of Ranch Road and Rustic Road just before 7 a.m. after receiving a report of a vehicle submerged in the Cow Pen Slough Canal.

Rescue swimmers saw one person inside the truck, but because of environmental hazards, including the gators, they left the water and a dive team was called to the scene, police said.

Evidence showed that the truck was speeding as it headed west on Rustic Road when it drove off the road, hit a light pole and landed in the canal, investigators said.

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After the two gators were removed from the canal by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, Venice divers, assisted by Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations units, assessed the truck and determined Sanchez, who was dead, was trapped inside, police said.

After a specialty commercial tow truck and the District 12 Medical Examiner’s Office got to the canal, the divers facilitated the hoisting of the truck from the canal.

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