Washington Girl Rescued after Car Goes in Lake

A 16-year-old Sandpoint girl was trapped up to her neck in ice-cold water for a half-hour Monday morning as rescue workers struggled to free her from her partially submerged car.

The teen, whom police would not identify, was driving on Sunnyside Road about a mile off Highway 200 in Bonner County when she reportedly lost control of her car, the Bonner County Sheriff's Office said.

Lt. Jim Drake said the car rolled at least once on the way down a 40-foot embankment, crashed through nearly 6 inches of ice and landed upside down in an inlet of Lake Pend Oreille.

The young driver was trapped, but her 19-year-old sister, Chantel Whitley, freed herself from the car. A county road worker driving past the accident scene called authorities.

Drake, one of several emergency workers who helped free the younger teen, said the water was shallow, but the car landed on an angle and the front two-thirds was below water.

"She was tied up in her seat belt, had twisted around and was about halfway into the back seat trying to get to air," Drake said. "When I was there holding onto her, she was on her stomach" against the ceiling inside the car.

Deputy Phil Stella, the first officer on the scene, worked with Drake, medics and crews from Northside Fire District and Sandpoint Fire Department to try to keep the girl calm as they worked to free her.

"She was panicking, shock had set in," Drake said.

Sheriff's Sgt. Geoff Rusho was one of the divers in the rescue and also helped a Med-Star helicopter land at the scene so the girl could be flown to Kootenai Medical Center, where she was treated for exposure and released, officials said.

Though some rescue workers were treated for exposure at the scene of the crash, Drake said no injuries were reported.

Monday's accident was the second in a week in which a car landed in a North Idaho lake. Four people escaped unharmed Nov. 30 after the car they were in slid on an icy road and plunged into Fernan Lake in Kootenai County.

In light of the accidents, authorities are urging drivers to be cautious on slick roads.

If a car does end up in the water, it's most important to stay calm, Kootenai County Sheriff's Sgt. Matt Street said.

Street keeps a tool - a spring-loaded punch - in his vehicles in case he finds himself in a sinking car. The punch helps to break out car windows in emergencies.

If the car doesn't land in the water upside down, Street said it will likely take 30 to 40 seconds before it is submerged.

"What I would plan for if I go in is to have the spring punch handy and try to remain calm," he said. "Realize when the water hits you, it's going to be cold. Let the vehicle settle, break the window out and try to swim to safety."

Street warns people against staying in the car, waiting for help or moving around inside the car trying to find an air bubble. The air pocket could disperse, he said.

His advice: Just get out.

News stories provided by third parties are not edited by "Site Publication" staff. For suggestions and comments, please click the Contact link at the bottom of this page.