At around 2220 hours we are just finishing up graveyard briefing. We are doing the round table thing with the shift Sgt.. Our third deputy left on a call prior to briefing so it was just the three of us.
I brought in the little cylinder window-cutting tool I’m working on to show the troops and talk about it. The Sgt. is my #2 on the team who is now known as Lane B. The deputy that is on the call is a past team member who quit the department and returned in June. He is waiting to fill a team spot once he’s off of probation.
The other deputy just had to run of at the mouth. She pops off with something like some one is going to drive into the lake tonight. I’m not sure but I think she mentioned Fernan Lake. You remember that little polluted 400-acre wonderland people just love to park in.
Not very long after she said that, 2223 hours, the Alert Tone goes off. BEEEEEEEEP, district 3, unknown injury accident, Fernan Lake Road 1.5 miles from Sherman Ave., vehicle is in the water.
The three of us jump up and get to the cars and caravan out to the scene. It’s can’t get much more icy so our speeds are held down quite a bit. But while we are in route I’m getting undressed and running the scenario through my head.
As we leave Lane B advises dispatch to put out a full dive team page.
Off with the duty belt, ballistic vest, shirt and boots. Empty out my pockets and go through a mental dressing procedure.
The deputy that missed briefing was just a few seconds ahead of us and advised 25 mph max around the lake due to the extreme icing conditions. Boy was he right.
We arrive on scene at 2233 hours after covering the roughly 7 miles. I jump out and big mouth
assists me getting suited up in my stiff frozen gear. I’m still in half of my uniform but that will be good enough for this dive as the vehicle is close to shore, has it lights on and is in about 8’ of water.
Lane B is getting suited as my back up and at approx. 2236 Fire/ Med arrives to assist in any way they can. They got a rope rigged so I could get over the bank and into the water, which happened to be at 2240. Hummmm, 7 minutes, bad, I need to work on that.
I walked out to the vehicle and a quick check shows a lot of litter but I can’t see any victims inside. A couple of the widows are down so the occupants may have made it out.
Towards town a wet shirt was recovered from the middle of the road giving us another indicator that someone made it out.
The tow shows up so I get it hooked up for removal and get out of the water. A State Police Trooper shows up to assist with the accident investigation and put the SUV’s minimum speed at round 60 mph. Holy Poo Batman you can’t pull those corners like that on dry roads. But silly me, it’s an SUV, they can go anywhere and do anything, Right?
The accident was actually 2.2 miles in and the road along the lake is only 2.6 miles long.
The third deputy has been out playing bloodhound all night and got a hold of the 4 occupants. It seems that at least a couple of them felt they were going to end up in the lake so they rolled down a couple of the windows just to be on the safe side. And I thought all North Idaho drivers were idiots.
After the dive I went back to the Marine Building and drove the car right into one of the heated bays. I dried out some of my gear, took a shower in my suit, washed down everything else and other than a wet dry suit (outside) I repacked and ready for the next one.
If we get another one tonight Lane B is getting wet so I can laugh at him.
Air temp roughly 20df. Water temp high 30’s. Vis approx 1.5’. Water depth 8’. Tank air temp 24df.
I didn’t quite get all of the uniform off I wanted off. My S&W Air Weight made another dive. That thing has acquired quite a bit of bottom time over the years.
I guess I earned my $.50 tonight so back on patrol.
Years ago when we did a dive on duty our shift was over and we went home still getting paid for a full shift. But with the better equipment we do a dive and around an hour later we are back at it ready to do it again.
Gary D.
I brought in the little cylinder window-cutting tool I’m working on to show the troops and talk about it. The Sgt. is my #2 on the team who is now known as Lane B. The deputy that is on the call is a past team member who quit the department and returned in June. He is waiting to fill a team spot once he’s off of probation.
The other deputy just had to run of at the mouth. She pops off with something like some one is going to drive into the lake tonight. I’m not sure but I think she mentioned Fernan Lake. You remember that little polluted 400-acre wonderland people just love to park in.
Not very long after she said that, 2223 hours, the Alert Tone goes off. BEEEEEEEEP, district 3, unknown injury accident, Fernan Lake Road 1.5 miles from Sherman Ave., vehicle is in the water.
The three of us jump up and get to the cars and caravan out to the scene. It’s can’t get much more icy so our speeds are held down quite a bit. But while we are in route I’m getting undressed and running the scenario through my head.
As we leave Lane B advises dispatch to put out a full dive team page.
Off with the duty belt, ballistic vest, shirt and boots. Empty out my pockets and go through a mental dressing procedure.
The deputy that missed briefing was just a few seconds ahead of us and advised 25 mph max around the lake due to the extreme icing conditions. Boy was he right.
We arrive on scene at 2233 hours after covering the roughly 7 miles. I jump out and big mouth
assists me getting suited up in my stiff frozen gear. I’m still in half of my uniform but that will be good enough for this dive as the vehicle is close to shore, has it lights on and is in about 8’ of water.Lane B is getting suited as my back up and at approx. 2236 Fire/ Med arrives to assist in any way they can. They got a rope rigged so I could get over the bank and into the water, which happened to be at 2240. Hummmm, 7 minutes, bad, I need to work on that.
I walked out to the vehicle and a quick check shows a lot of litter but I can’t see any victims inside. A couple of the widows are down so the occupants may have made it out.
Towards town a wet shirt was recovered from the middle of the road giving us another indicator that someone made it out.
The tow shows up so I get it hooked up for removal and get out of the water. A State Police Trooper shows up to assist with the accident investigation and put the SUV’s minimum speed at round 60 mph. Holy Poo Batman you can’t pull those corners like that on dry roads. But silly me, it’s an SUV, they can go anywhere and do anything, Right?
The accident was actually 2.2 miles in and the road along the lake is only 2.6 miles long.
The third deputy has been out playing bloodhound all night and got a hold of the 4 occupants. It seems that at least a couple of them felt they were going to end up in the lake so they rolled down a couple of the windows just to be on the safe side. And I thought all North Idaho drivers were idiots.
After the dive I went back to the Marine Building and drove the car right into one of the heated bays. I dried out some of my gear, took a shower in my suit, washed down everything else and other than a wet dry suit (outside) I repacked and ready for the next one.
If we get another one tonight Lane B is getting wet so I can laugh at him.
Air temp roughly 20df. Water temp high 30’s. Vis approx 1.5’. Water depth 8’. Tank air temp 24df.
I didn’t quite get all of the uniform off I wanted off. My S&W Air Weight made another dive. That thing has acquired quite a bit of bottom time over the years.
I guess I earned my $.50 tonight so back on patrol.
Years ago when we did a dive on duty our shift was over and we went home still getting paid for a full shift. But with the better equipment we do a dive and around an hour later we are back at it ready to do it again.
Gary D.
