Passers-by rescue family from car submerged in Logan River

The quick action of several passers-by very well could have saved the lives of a Logan family and their friend Saturday afternoon in Logan Canyon. Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Phil Rawlinson says 46-year old Roger Anderson, his 9-year old daughter, 4-year old son, and 9-year old family friend, were on their way to Beaver Mountain at approximately 12:45 p.m. As they rounded the corner at mile post 474, near Logan Cave, they came upon a van that had spun out and was high centered on the bridge. Rawlinson says Anderson says he started to brake, but his entire system locked up. His front tires caught the embankment and his car slowly went down toward the river. When the passenger side hit the water, the car rolled over on its top. Rawlinson says Anderson’s 9-year old daughter and 4-year old son were completely submerged in the water. The 9-year old family friend was able to keep her head above the water, however she reported the water was making its way up her neck and face. Anderson tried to get his daughter out of the passenger side but was unsuccessful. That’s when he got out of the car and and saw five or six men already in the river ready to help. The group lifted the car back onto its tires, tried the doors again, but ended up breaking the windows. When they pulled out the 4-year old, he was unconscious and not breathing. The two girls were suffering hypothermia. A nurse happened to be in the area, and she along with a man who helped in the water, started CPR. Rawlinson says soon the boy was revived and coughing up water. Rawlinson says the car was submerged for one or two minutes but the quick action of the rescuers made all the difference. The victims were loaded into a vehicle and started down the canyon, soon rendezvousing with an ambulance and taken to Logan Regional Hospital. The daughter and son were air-lifted to Primary Children’s Medical Center for more intensive care, but Rawlinson says the prognosis looks good for the both of them. Rawlinson says that area of the canyon is particularly dangerous, with three accidents in three hours today, and no guardrails.

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