Man rescued after nearly drowning

Driver drove down boat launch at Crescent Bar

CRESCENT BAR - A man allegedly intentionally drove his SUV into the Columbia River at Crescent Bar Thursday night and was rescued moments before he could drown.

When the Grant County Sheriff's Office, Search and Rescue and Grant County Fire District No. 3 responded to the scene, they found a 1997 Hummer at the end of a boat launch, filled with water, Grant County Undersheriff John Turley stated.

Originally five people were inside the vehicle and four managed to escape.

The driver, Merle C. Sorenson, 48, Woodinville, Wash., was reportedly trapped in the vehicle between the driver's seat and the steering wheel, he advised.

"First responders found him with only his head above the water," Turley noted. "Fire district 3 personnel were able to secure a line to the back of the vehicle and were able to move the vehicle far enough out of the water to save Sorenson before he slipped further down the boat launch and drown."

When law enforcement asked him why he drove the SUV down the boat launch, he reportedly stated he wanted to see how far he could drive into the water with the capability to back out and that he wanted to clean his tires.

He allegedly told law enforcement he drank six beers.

Sorenson was transported to Quincy Valley Hospital for treatment of mild hypothermia, Turley stated. The other four people who were inside the vehicle reportedly used a hot tub at a nearby condominium.

Eric B. Dahl, 38, Wenatchee, Wash., was a passenger in the Hummer and called 9-1-1. He reportedly told 9-1-1 dispatchers the SUV was submerged 500 feet from the shoreline, Turley noted. The vehicle was not 500 feet from the shoreline, it was close to the end of the boat launch, he advised.

Possible charges are pending.