Driver rescued from Lewis River after crash

Firefighters used heavy-rescue equipment to free the driver of a pickup that crashed down a 50-foot cliff into the swift-moving Lewis River on Sunday night.

Emergency personnel were notified of a crash at 19700 Northeast Lucia Falls Road at about 11:30 p.m., according to Clark County Fire District 3. Clark County Fire District 13 and North Country Emergency Medical Service also responded.

The pickup had hit a tree, tumbled down a 50-foot cliff and landed on its wheels in about 3 feet of swift water, which was about 10 feet from the bank of the Lewis River, according to the fire district.

Crews used a rope system to access the truck’s only occupant, who was injured, and then called for assistance. A heavy-rescue team from the Vancouver Fire Department and a technical-rescue team from Clark County Fire District 6 responded to assist.

Crews used the Jaws of Life to remove the roof of the truck to access the driver, identified by police as Thomas Shealy, 63. Crews then used special equipment and a rope system to safely haul him up the cliff to a waiting ambulance, according to Clark County Fire District 3. Seventeen fire personnel were involved in the rescue.

The man was taken to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center. Clark County sheriff’s Sgt. Rick Torres said Shealy was back at home recovering from relatively minor injuries by Monday night.

No citations had been issued, and the investigation is ongoing, Torres said.