Car drives into Black River, occupant taken to hospital

First responders recovered an empty maroon 2014 Chrysler passenger vehicle from the Black River on Sunday afternoon.

Poplar Bluff firefighters responded shortly before 1 p.m. June 25 to a car in Black River at the Sportsman Park Boat ramp, 1000 White Row St.

Battalion Chief Stacy Harmon and firefighter Josh Buhler swam about 100 feet out into the river to locate the fully submerged, unoccupied vehicle.

Harmon notified the second responding unit they would need the water rescue boat.

“We were informed by bystanders that they didn’t know if anyone was in the vehicle,” said Harmon, adding later they were told someone had taken one person to a local hospital.

He and Buhler donned life jackets and entered the water to check to see if the vehicle was occupied.

“We didn’t see anyone in the vehicle and when Engine 33 arrived, Lt. Jonathan Miller donned a life jacket and brought out a tag line so we could secure the vehicle to keep the current from taking it further out into the river.”

When the tow company arrived, the firefighters swam the cables out and secured them to the vehicle so it could be pulled from the river. Capt. Chad Bell and Miller made sure the cable was secured, and the car was removed and loaded on a wrecker.

At the scene were firefighters Austin Armes and Kenneth Felts along with Poplar Bluff police and Butler County EMS.

The police department said there was no motor vehicle accident or criminal complaint. The vehicle impound showed the color, make and model.

“I don’t have any further information on it,” a department spokesperson said.

This article was updated at 3:18 p.m. Monday, June 26.