SEDGWICK COUNTY –Two Sedgwick County Sheriff Deputies and a citizen saved a man from a submerged vehicle just after 7p.m. Tuesday in Sedgwick County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2010 Ford van driven by Olsen Navarrete, 21, Wichita, was southbound on Interstate 135 on the ramp to Southbound Interstate 235 at the North Junction. The van exited the roadway and went down the embankment.
Sedgwick County Deputy Clinton Harris observed a vehicle parked on the Interstate 235 exit ramp from Interstate 135 with people standing outside when he observed the van submerged upside-down in the west KDOT Lake, according to Sheriff's Lt. Nathan Gibbs.
Deputy Harris responded to the submersion and was told there was a person trapped inside. Deputy Harris entered the water with a citizen and broke out several of the windows in the vehicle to locate the victim. Deputy Nathan Kingery arrived on scene and assisted Deputy Harris and the citizen pull the victim from the vehicle.
The victim was unresponsive and the deputies administered life saving measures until EMS and Fire arrived and took over. EMS transported the victim to a local hospital in critical condition. Deputy Harris was treated at a local hospital for injuries he received during the rescue.
EMS also transported four additional occupants of the van to the hospital for treatment. The driver and occupants of the van were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.