Man Charged With DUI After Van Lands In River: King Co. Sheriff

KING COUNTY, WA — King County deputies charged a man with DUI after his van ended up in the river with him still inside.

Around 8:30 p.m., on Tuesday, Oct. 26, an off-duty sergeant driving home called 911 to report that a Chrysler minivan went over an embankment and became partially submerged in the Raging River near the 32800 blk. of SE Preston Fall City Road, according to the King County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies said the 58-year-old driver was successfully rescued from the van. After officers said they detected that he may be impaired, troopers from the Washington State Patrol responded to assist in the investigation. He was later booked into the King County Jail for DUI

The sheriff's office said a preliminary test of his breath showed an alcohol concentration of 0.278 —three-times greater than Washington's legal limit.

"Wet roads, dark skies and impaired driving are a recipe for collisions. We are thankful for the first responders - both on and off-duty - who brought this incident to a safe end," the sheriff's office posted on its official Facebook page.

Deputies said it took an experienced tow truck operator to successfully pull the van from the river to the roadway.