A Janesville, Wisconsin woman’s 2011 Chevrolet Equinox ended up in the Rock River after a wild animal rescue gone awry.
Missy Long claims to have spotted a turtle and attempted to return it to its natural habitat by dropping it off in the water via the Rock River boat launch area. However, Long suspects that she forgot to put her vehicle in park before exiting the Equinox and attempting to save the turtle. The Equinox then rolled down the boat launch area, right into the river, and began floating downstream.
Police and fire marshals were alerted to the floating Chevrolet at 11:34 AM on Wednesday. Officials began the recovery process shortly after.
Police Sgt. Dean Sukus says the police received two 911 calls that morning that a car was in the river near the Bellrichard bridge. Those calls came from area local Kevin Mageland who happened to be in the area at the time. Mageland then jumped into the river to see if anyone was trapped in the car.
“It’s not every day that you drive over that bridge and see a car just floating down the river,” he said. Mageland confirmed moments later that no one was in the vehicle, and that the owner was OK.
Long didn’t have time for an in-depth interview as she had to arrange for a ride home. To make matters worse, officials have not been able to confirm what happened to the turtle. But we’re hopeful that the turtle was at least able to have a safe ride home. We also commend Long’s Good Samaritan act, but just wish she’d have shifted the Chevrolet Equinox into park and applied the parking brake before helping the anapsid.
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Source: Gazette Extra
Comments
This is one funny story for me personally. First, it’s stuff like this that makes me wonder how people actually tie their shoes. Second, and this is no kidding, I think I know this lady!
I grew up in the NW corner of IL very close to Janesville, Wi. I went to school with a Missy Long! Put those two together and I’m sure it’s her and I’m sure (last I knew) she had moved to that area. Plus, sounds about like her. haha. But glad she wasn’t hurt.
You deserve each other, her for doing that, you admitting you know her, lol
Disconnect battery, put an electric heater, thermostatically controlled, inside the car, close doors, roll windows down slightly and let it run for 10 days. Check transmission and engine oil levels….start her up, drive off slowly…check brakes….Voila!
Make sure and park in a sunny spot for added chances of success.
The State Forestry Service stalled a fairly new truck in a creek bed and left it over the weekend only to discover on their return that the creek had risen a few feet.
It went to auction and I got it for $2600 That was 27 years ago……it still runs perfectly.
Several years ago, I had a Nissan rental in which the parking brake disengaged on its own as I was getting out of the door even though the car was in Park and brake was pulled up. I think this was in the first year they used a CVT. The car was a complete POS with cheap Chinese plastics all over, I wouldn’t recommend a Nissan to anyone after that freaky incident.
There was an article the other day about electric vs mechanical emergency brakes on GMauthority. Guess neither would have helped if you don’t set them.
My Ford Fusion Hybrid will set the electric parking brake by itself if you shift into “P”. I know she didn’t do that because I also have a Chevy Equinox and it doesn’t do the same as the Fusion.
“I brake for turtles” is one thing, but “I drive into rivers for turtles” is going too far. 🙂
Anyway, I hope this doesn’t put her underwater on her loan.
I’ll be here all week.
LOL. That’s a good one.
First a plastic straw ban, now this.
Oh man, I’m so disappointed…From the head line I thought the car had actually plunged into the river to save the turtle….
I have an equinox you sire it was an accident … lnao problem problem problem