Crews Pull Off Terrifying Vehicle Recovery in Idaho’s Payette River

A terrifying crash that took place over the weekend South of Cascade, Idaho, has required Idaho first responders to spring into action.

A vehicle traveling southbound crashed into another on Highway 55 South of Cascade before it continued tragically into the Payette River. Water levels, at the time, were too aggressive for crews to get in to handle the vehicle, however witnesses claim to have seen at least one person quickly get swept down stream following the river.

Days later, water levels reached a point where crews could remove the truck from the river where it has been since the incident. It was a group effort that took a lot of skill, tact, and patience.

Take a look at some of these shocking photos from the vehicle recovery

The recovery efforts by all parties involved in this were heroic.

Not only were Idaho search and rescue crews there to get the job done--but Code Red Towing, locally owned and operated, was called in because of their extensive fleet and experience as well as Cascade Raft and Kayak--folks who know those bodies of river, arguably, better than anyone.

ISP troopers temporarily closed State Highway 55 near milepost 93.5 south of Cascade to facilitate the vehicle recovery associated with Sunday’s crash.  River levels receded enough to allow responders from the Idaho Mountain Search and Rescue Unit, assisted by the Cascade Raft and Kayak company, to safely access and assist with removing the submerged Dodge Ram pickup from the North Fork of the Payette River. The vehicle was unoccupied.  The driver, a 40-year-old man from Billings, Montana, has been identified. His family was notified of the crash, but he has not been located.

Authorities say that the crash is still under investigation and the search for the driver, continues.

See the full recovery video for yourself, here:

You may recall that not long ago, the Idaho National Guard assisted in the rescue of some people on a raging Idaho river!