Grand Forks RCMP are wanting to identify a motorist in order to thank him for his Good Samaritan efforts at the scene of single vehicle collision. The man along with other motorists were instrumental in getting the victim driver out of a partially submerged vehicle.
On 2013-04-20 at 1532 hrs police received a call from B.C. Ambulance to assist with a single vehicle roll over collision on Highway 3 at Lafferty Pitt east of Christina Lake. The investigation has revealed that the lone occupant/driver of the vehicle was westbound on highway 3, lost control on a corner and went off road left, down an embankment and landed upside down in a creek. A young male driver from Nelson, B.C.was eastbound and noticed the vehicle losing control and stopped to assist along with another couple who were almost hit, just before the vehicle went off the road. The young man proceeded down the bank and jumped into the creek which was about chest deep and attempted to free the victim who was underwater and unresponsive. The other couple managed to flag down a vehicle and an unidentified male ran to assist the first rescuer in the water. The unidentified male had a knife and was able to cut victim’s seat belt and pulled the victim out and onto the underside of the overturned vehicle. They then performed CPR and managed to get the driver breathing again. Both rescuers were being assisted by a nurse who stopped to help and was giving first aid direction from the bank of the creek.
Fire rescue arrived and recovered the victim from atop the overturned vehicle in the middle of the creek up to awaiting the BC Ambulance crew who transported the male to the Grand Forks Hospital. Later at hospital bedside the Constable spoke with the victim and asked him how long his head was under water and victim replied, “maybe a minute.” The Victim then stated that the last thing he remembered was taking a deep breath when the vehicle was filling with water. The witnesses stated that the victim was under water for at least five minutes. The victim was transported to the Trail Hospital as a precaution due to the water in his lungs.

On Tuesday morning Grand Forks Police talked to the victim, who advises that he has made a full recovery. He also advised he is extremely grateful to all the people who stopped to help rescue him from what likely would have been his demise.
Police are asking for anyone with knowledge of who the second young man who stopped and entered the creek to assist in the rescue, to please call Boundary RCMP at 250-442-8288.