News

Trooper, bystander save unconscious driver from submerged car

A Washington State Patrol trooper, with the help of passing driver, swam about 50 feet in a pond to save a trapped driver in a submerged car.
The car had left the road, crashing through a fence and coming to rest in the pond.
 Only the car’s roof was visible.
The driver was unable to get out of the car because he was unconscious. 
The passing driver, Jim Kocker, swam out to the car prior to Trooper Jay Farmer's arrival, but he was unable to get into the car because the doors were locked and the windows were rolled up. 
Kocker felt he had to fight off the onset of hypothermia prior to going back for a second time with Farmer to rescue the driver.
The trooper swam out to the car with his expandable baton to break the window, and then in a team effort, the pair was able to break a window, get into the car and unbuckle the driver.
The driver was removed from the car and brought to shore by Farmer and Kocker to a waiting ambulance.
 The driver was transported to Kittitas Valley Healthcare to be evaluated. 
The state patrol said had it not been for the actions of Trooper Farmer and Good Samaritan Jim Kocker, the driver could have died.
While many other drivers had stopped, Kocker, a former lifeguard, sprang into action prior to the arrival of emergency personnel.
 Kocker again risked his life, going back for a second time to complete the rescue with the trooper, police said.
When asked about rescuing the driver, Farmer said, "Any trooper would have done the same. It's what we do."