03/11/2009: "Car Off Cliff & Into Water Claims Life Of One On Orcas"

One person is dead after a vehicle on Orcas went over a 60’ cliff near Channel Road and landed upside down in the water.The victim had been reported missing on Tuesday at 1:00 pm. Friends were searching when the vehicle was discovered over the bank and in the water at low tide.

At 9:36 pm Tuesday night, Orcas Fire responded to a reported vehicle over the embankment near Cayou Quay Marina in Deer Harbor. The first responder on scene reported a vehicle partially submerged, upside down in the water.

Deer Harbor Engine 24,Westsound Engine 22, Medic 21 and Rescue 21 responded as well as 16 firefighters and EMS personnel and a rescue dive boat provided lighting to aid in the recovery of the car, but divers were not necessary due to land access to the car.

The rope rescue team brought equipment in Aid 22 with equipment but it was not deployed. Firefighters and EMTs assisted with recover of the vehicle as it was pulled from the water and back to the roadway by town truck.

The call was completed and all apparatus were back in station by 2:42 am

More details will be posted when they become available