posted 07-06-2004 08:29 PM                    

quote:

---

Driver plucked from water after backing rented car off of ferry
By MARTA MURVOSH

ANACORTES — A New York man made a quick exit Monday from a ferry at the Anacortes terminal, driving his rented car backwards into the water.

Ferry service, which was delayed for an hour and a half Monday, was on schedule today.

State Patrol troopers say that human error caused David Polson to drive off the back of the ferry Chelan. Polson, 38, suffered minor injuries.

"I guess he didn't realize it was in reverse," said Trooper Lance Ramsay.

Polson's rented 2004 Ford Taurus was submerged in 40 to 60 feet of water near the state ferry terminal. It was to be lifted from the water today.

Polson, of New York, had been traveling in Washington, Ramsay said. He had loaded his car at Friday Harbor for the trip to Anacortes but other details about his travels were unknown to troopers. The accident occurred at 11:40 a.m.

The 130-vehicle Chelan has an upper car deck, and Polson's Ford was parked on the left-side ramp leading to that upper level, said Susan Harris-Huether, Washington State Ferries spokesperson.

After the Chelan arrived in Anacortes and most of the vehicles had disembarked, one of the deckhands had waved Polson forward, Harris-Huether said.

But the Taurus began to roll backwards, she said. The deckhand stopped the driver and said, "No, come forward," Harris-Huether said.

The deckhand told investigators the driver adjusted his gear shift and then gunned the engine, Harris-Huether said.

But the Taurus didn't roll forward.

Instead, it shot backwards, pushing the wooden blocks placed behind the tires to keep it from rolling back. The car then rolled over those blocks, burst through the netting and chain and barreled into the water.

"He was going so fast the car blocks rubbed the nonskid (surface,)" said Harris-Huether, describing the streaks left behind.

The man rolled down his electric windows and was able to get out of the car, said Anacortes Fire Chief Richard Curtis.

Ferry workers in a rescue boat threw a life ring and yelled at Polson to let go of the car because they knew it would eventually sink, Harris-Huether said.

"He was real reluctant to let go of the car," she said.

Once Polson grabbed the floating ring, they were able to haul him into the boat.

The car floated away from the boat about 40 yards before sinking, Harris-Huether said.

After coming ashore, ferry crews took the man to a building at the terminal where paramedics found him soaking wet and wrapped in a blanket, Curtis said.

Polson was treated at Island Hospital in Anacortes and released. Federal regulations restrict hospitals and paramedics from discussing specifics, but Harris-Huether said he had a broken arm.

Paramedics' primary concern when treating someone who has fallen into water is to warm their patient, Curtis said. In the case of car accidents, paramedics also may need to treat patients for a head injury or broken bones.

"Even though it's a warm day, the water is always cold, especially sea water," Curtis said. "It doesn't take long for hypothermia to set in."

The ferry was undamaged and went back in service around 1:15 p.m. Monday.

The Chelan, Kaleetan and Yakima serve the San Juan Islands and the Elwha travels between Anacortes and Sidney, B.C.

There have been isolated instances of people who attempted to drive off a ferry or people who were involved in collisions with a ferry because they were asleep or had been drinking.

"We are not overly concerned about this happening again," Harris-Huether said.

---