Misjudged Depth Dashes Driver's Hopes of Crossing River

What looks like a hard lesson that trucks don't easily double as riverboats, was more of a misjudgement in an effort to drive the truck onto a sandbar.

Photo courtesy: Bill Holmstrom/Salem Fire

(SALEM) - Just in case anyone was wondering what all the ruckus was about at Wallace Marine Park this afternoon, it turns out that two men who tried to maneuver their pick up along a stretch of the Willamette River were less divine than they had hoped.

A driver who passed by called 9-1-1, and apparently thought the occupants in the truck were in danger. So the two men in the pickup, Jessie Adams and Shastina Vanoverbeke of Salem, ended up being the subject of a water rescue response by firefighters.
In three feet of water.

Salem Fire's Bill Holmstrom says the two were taking a joy ride in the Ford 150 Truck at Wallace Marine Park. Adams drove his truck down the boat ramp and onto a gravel bar. He attempted to cross a portion of water, which he thought was only a few inches deep when his truck sank into 3-feet of water and became stuck.

Salem Fire received the call for a Water Rescue at 1:09 PM. When they arrived they discovered the truck in the water, but neither occupants were in need of assistance. The truck was towed out and the scene was cleared by 1:49 PM.

Salem Police are conducting the investigation of the incident.