RIPON, WI (WTAQ) – Ripon Police Chief Bill Wallner is commending one of his officers for recognizing a dangerous situation and then reacting quickly to help save the victim of a crash on Saturday morning.
Around 7:25 a.m., Officer Trevor Hanke was patrolling near West Oshkosh Street and North Union Street when he noticed what appeared to be tracks from a vehicle going through a snow bank and down the incline towards Silver Creek.
“Just based on that observation that the officer made, he was able to think ‘This just doesn’t look right’ – and followed up further on it and possibly saved a life. It’s just very fortunate that he did that,” Chief Wallner says, “It’s a major road through our community, and I don’t know how many people would’ve driven by and not even noticed that.”
After stopping to check the area, Officer Hanke located a vehicle that was upside down in the water. The driver of the vehicle was out of the vehicle clinging to it in the frigid water.
The driver was able to get herself out of the car, by crawling out a back window, as it filled with water. Debris in the creek and cold conditions prevented the driver from being able to get herself out of the water, and she was clinging to the vehicle when officer Hanke found her.
“The officer actually had to enter the creek in order to get her out of the water because at this point, she claimed she had been in the creek for anywhere from 15 minutes to a half hour,” Wallner tells WTAQ News, “Without his being involved, the circumstances could have been much more tragic. She was able to get herself out of the vehicle, but not out of the water.”
Hanke then called for EMS, Fire Department, and an additional officer to respond to the area. He then helped the victim through the water, at one point getting into the water himself with help from another bystander that had arrived on the scene.
As for what led to the vehicle to leave the road and end up in the water, Wallner points to the weather.
“Saturday morning because of the snow we were having, she did not make the curve and went through the snowbank and rolled down the embankment into the creek and ended up upside down,” Wallner says.
The driver was transported by EMS to Ripon Medical Center and treated for exposure to the extremely cold water, but she has made a complete recovery.
In a press release, Chief Wallner stated:
“I am sure that had Officer Hanke not been observant and recognized the signs of the accident in the snow, and the tracks leading over the embankment, and then took the time to further investigate the scene; the outcome of this incident could have been tragic for this particular driver. No call came to the department about this accident and no other person knew the accident had occurred. Only through Officer Hanke’s observations did he realize something may be wrong. I am extremely proud of this officer for his actions during this incident, and it highlights the great work all of our officers do on a daily basis for the citizens of this community, “
