Fairhaven police rescue 61-year old man from flipped truck in 7 feet of water

Video by ML Baron.

The Fairhaven Police and Fire Departments responded to Goulart Memorial Drive just after 3pm Wednesday afternoon after receiving reports of a vehicle that drove off the roadway and landed in the water. When officers arrived they found a 1997 black Ford F-250 pickup truck upside down in approximately 7 feet of water. Officer Scott Coelho waded out to the vehicle, which was approximately 15 feet from the roadway, and determined there was someone still inside the cab of the truck. Upon hearing this, Officers Kevin Chasse and Alexander Kisla removed their duty belts and rushed into the frigid water to help.

Officers Coelho and Kisla managed to free the operator from the vehicle after cutting his seatbelt, while Officer Chasse swam around to the passenger side of the truck to determine if there were any other occupants trapped inside. Nathan Picard, owner of Picard Tile, jumped into the water and helped the officers bring the operator back to the causeway. Fairhaven Fire Department Deputy Chief Todd Correia had entered the water at that location and provided assistance in lifting the victim back to dry land. The victim was then lifted up to the road surface where paramedics from the Fairhaven Fire Department began administering lifesaving treatment.

As the first round of officers were exiting the 39 degree water, Detectives Jerald Bettencourt and Scott Gordon jumped in and made their way back to the truck to ensure there was no one left inside. Both detectives went underwater and attempted to look inside the truck. However, the visibility was zero due to the debris that was kicked up from the sea floor from the impact of the truck. Due to the frigid conditions, officers were prevented from remaining in the water for any considerable length of time. Sergeant Michael Botelho relieved the detectives and made an attempt to ensure there were no additional occupants trapped inside.

A commercial diver, properly equipped for cold water exposure was finally able to determine that no one was left inside the truck. The driver and sole occupant was transported to St. Luke’s Hospital in critical condition. He is only being identified as a 61 year old male resident of West Island. Big Wheels Towing utilized a crane to remove the truck from the water. The Fairhaven Board of Public Works removed a light pole that was snapped off from its base by the truck before launching into the bay. All exposed wires from the severed light pole were rendered safe by Fairhaven Electrical Inspector John Cottrill.

The truck, which was traveling eastbound onto West Island was the only vehicle involved in the crash. Fairhaven public safety agencies were provided assistance with traffic control by the Mattapoisett Police Department.