A Dubois man had to be rescued from his sports utility vehicle after driving it into high water along a rural Dubois County roadway over the weekend.
The Dubois County Sheriff’s Department says just before 7 am Saturday, 54-year old Richard Hawes of Dubois was traveling west along County Road 300 North about 1500 feet west of County Road 175 East in Marion Township when deputies say he disregarded a high water, do not enter sign and proceeded to drive his SUV into high water over 300 West.
Police say Hawes vehicle went off the south side of the roadway and into a deep ditch. They say Hawes exited his SUV and was standing in the cold water until units arrived.
A deputy was able to navigate to where Hawes was stranded, while a first responder with the Dubois Volunteer Fire Department walked out to Hawes and was able to pull him over the hood of his vehicle and assist him into a deputy’s truck.
He was then taken to an awaiting ambulance where he was treated then taken to Memorial Hospital in Jasper for exposure to the cold temperatures.
Hawes’ SUV was towed from the scene later in the afternoon after the water had receded from the roadway.
He was cited for disregarding a traffic control device.
The Dubois County Sheriff’s Department was assisted at the scene by Indiana Conservation Officers, Dubois First Responders, and Memorial Hospital Emergency Medical Services.
