A motorist is being treated for hypothermia after their vehicle was found in the Kenai River.
Cooper Landing Emergency Services and Alaska State Troopers responded to a boat ramp at the Sportsman’s Landing fishing access early Tuesday morning, where they found the vehicle submerged in the river. According to a trooper press release, the male motorist escaped the vehicle and wandered into traffic on the Sterling Highway. The motorist was transported to Central Peninsula Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.
Scott Hockema is the owner of Scott’s Towing and Recovery, and helped tow the vehicle out of the water. He says the river’s current was swift and the boat ramp near the submerged vehicle was slippery.
“It just didn’t look like it was high speed or anything," Hockema said. "It was real slippery, but it didn’t look like it really slid, because it was tire tracks, not like skid marks going into the river. I don't know what was going on there.”
Hockema says the vehicle was found with its windows rolled down and headlights still on.
It’s still unclear what caused the accident. Troopers say the accident is still under investigation.
This story was updated on Dec. 18, 2024 to reflect newly released information.
