FRANKLIN COUNTY, Wash. — A Jeep slid into the Columbia River near the Ringgold Boat Launch on the evening of Friday, December 26, resulting in the death of one of the pets inside.
Sheriff’s deputies received the call and arrived at the scene to find the Jeep already submerged underwater. The two people in the vehicle managed to escape with one of their pets, but the other drowned inside the car.
Deputy Salvador Torres from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office emphasized the dangers of driving near the river, especially during rainy periods.
“It’s unfortunate one of those times a year where the river, just especially with the rain that we’re getting, just starts overflowing and it starts getting closer to shore,” Torres said. “Just because you’re able to see the water from your vehicle and you can see the ground, doesn’t mean it’s safe for you to drive on it.”
The two individuals involved in the crash were treated for hypothermia at the scene and transported to a nearby hospital for minor injuries. A dive team successfully retrieved the car from the river on Saturday.
