The Anderson County Rescue Squad searches for a vehicle that went off New Henderson Road and into Bull Run Creek near Bull Run Park in Claxton on Wednesday evening, March 8, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Note: This story was last updated at 1 p.m. March 9.
CLAXTON—The driver of a car that had been reported stolen was injured when the vehicle plunged off New Henderson Road and into deep water near Bull Run Park in Claxton on Wednesday evening, authorities said.
When deputies arrived, the driver was found lying on the embankment near the water, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Mark Lucas said.
Rescuers received a report that two men working at a nearby home heard the crash and pulled the driver of the car from the water to safety, Lucas said.
Divers from the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department, Anderson County Rescue Squad, and Knoxville Volunteer Rescue Squad checked the car and surrounding area in the water, but no other occupants were found, according to Lucas and Claxton Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief Dusty Sharpe and Lieutenant Mike Dabney.
Authorities said the driver was not initially alert. He was taken by ambulance to the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, Dabney said. The driver’s name, age, and condition weren’t available Wednesday night.
Authorities found two identifications after the single-vehicle crash, which was reported at about 7:45 p.m., so they spent several hours searching the water with the help of divers in order to confirm that no was else was injured or trapped in the car.
The car was found about 35 feet from shore, Sharpe said. It was completely submerged. The visibility in the cold water was about 18 inches. Rescuers were able to pull out the car, with the help of divers, at about 10:30 p.m.
Lucas said the car had been reported stolen to the Knox County Sheriff’s Office.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
Note: This story has been updated. See newer story here.
A diver checks for other occupants of a submerged vehicle near Bull Run Park in Claxton after a car crashed off New Henderson Road and into Bull Run Creek on Wednesday evening, March 8, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Dive rescue teams check for other occupants of a submerged vehicle near Bull Run Park in Claxton after a car crashed off New Henderson Road and into Bull Run Creek on Wednesday evening, March 8, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Dive rescue teams check for other occupants of a submerged vehicle near Bull Run Park in Claxton after a car crashed off New Henderson Road and into Bull Run Creek on Wednesday evening, March 8, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Rescuers respond to a single-vehicle crash off New Henderson Road in deep water near Bull Run Park in Claxton on Wednesday evening, March 8, 2017. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
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