Bonneville County Sheriff's Office
Quick Response Saves Family Trapped in River
BONNEVILLE COUNTY, Idaho — A Utah family of six was dramatically rescued from the Snake River on Monday afternoon after their van slipped off the road and into the water near Fall Creek Campground, according to the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office.
Emergency crews were dispatched around 12:20 p.m. after the driver called 911 to report his vehicle had rolled into the river while his wife and four children were still inside. The family was unable to exit as the van floated downstream and began filling with water.
Rescuers Navigate Dangerous Conditions
When responders arrived, they found the van lodged on rocks in the river’s current just upstream from Fall Creek Falls. The family members were still inside with their heads above water.
Working together, multiple agencies used ropes and dive equipment to reach the vehicle, extract the family, and help them up the 30-foot embankment to safety.
The family, who had been camping in the area with friends, escaped without serious injury but was treated on scene for cold water exposure.
Community and Crews Act Swiftly
The rescue effort involved the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Deputies, the Dive Rescue Team, Idaho Falls Ambulance, Swan Valley Fire, and the Jefferson Central Technical Rescue Team. A nearby deputy and bystanders also assisted in stabilizing the vehicle and supporting the rescue.
The section of Snake River Road where the incident occurred was closed for about two hours while crews recovered the van.
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