The suspect reportedly drove off the freeway and down a 200-foot embankment near the conclusion of a police pursuit in the Phoenix, Arizona metropolitan area on Tuesday night.
The guy in his twenties was pulled from the riverbed near Interstate 10 and the Salt River, according to Phoenix Fire Captain Todd Keller. The team had to scale two 100-foot cliffs in order to reach the driver, according to Keller.
The man was out of the vehicle when rescuers reached the base of the hill. Keller stated that they are uncertain if the individual was expelled or if he crawled out at some time.
The individual was rushed to the hospital complaining merely of rib pain, according to Keller.
Keller stated, “Two hundred feet down is significant.” This is a high-risk rescue operation for our infrequently rescued members.
Fox 10 reports that a second occupant of the vehicle was apprehended on the embankment.
According to authorities, the suspect was retrieved from the riverbed near Interstate 10 and the Salt River.
Phoenix Fire Department
The incident reportedly began when Tempe police attempted to stop the motorist around 40th Street and University Drive while investigating an occupied stolen vehicle.
The motorist refused to stop and struck one of the police vehicles while fleeing the scene, resulting in a brief chase that was discontinued owing to the suspect’s “high rate of speed and erratic driving.”
Later, cops conducting area patrols saw the suspect’s vehicle atop the embankment and contacted rescue services.
Crews executed a steep-angle rescue and ascended two 100-foot cliffs in order to reach the driver.
Captain Todd Keller of the Phoenix Fire Department stated that the injured guy was “very fortunate” when he was transported to a hospital.
The time frame between the conclusion of the pursuit and the suspect driving off the edge of the cliff was not given.
No first responders participating in the pursuit and rescue were reported to have sustained injuries.
Keller said that Tempe police, Phoenix police, and U.S. Marshals were all there.