Driver rescued by Good Samaritan after car crashes into Port Alberni creek

A vehicle careened off a bridge and into Roger Creek in Port Alberni Monday, leaving its driver partially submerged until a stranger jumped in to pull them to shore.

Port Alberni RCMP say it happened at around 5:30 p.m. on the Gertrude Street bridge that spans the creek.

The driver had reportedly suffered an undisclosed medical event and pulled over near the bridge. Within seconds, the vehicle rolled over the embankment and plunged into the water.

Three youths who were also in the car were able to get out before it went into the water, police say, but the driver remained in waist-deep water.

Luckily, a Good Samaritan who saw the crash immediately entered the creek and pulled the driver to dry land.

All four people who were in the vehicle were treated by paramedics and transported to a nearby hospital for further assessment, but police say no one involved suffered serious injury.

RCMP are crediting the Good Samaritan who bravely jumped in to help rescue the driver as well as others who assisted.

“The selfless acts that were displayed by those who stopped to help show what our small town is about,” Const. Richard Johns said in a statement.

Port Alberni RCMP says it is in contact with the Ministry of Environment to ensure the protection of the creek’s water, though it doesn’t appear any fuel or other fluids spilled into the creek.

READ MORE: Port Alberni under Stage 3 water restriction due to main water supply damage

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