LUCERNE — Northshore Fire Protection District firefighter/paramedic Odell Landers, 25, had no apprehension. He was in the water inside of three minutes searching a vehicle for occupants that was submerged in Clear Lake.
“I have a diving certificate, but I am not part of a dive team,” Landers said. It would take approximately 15 minutes for the dive team to arrive. If anyone were in the vehicle, 15 minutes is too long to wait.
Landers said his top priority was to get any possible occupants out. He said the vehicle was unstable while he was conducting the search.
“I had to make sure the vehicle did not rock over on top of me,” he said.
The 2005 Chevy Colorado pick-up truck was empty. Driver Jose Daniel Perez, 25, and passenger Steven Scott Stutsman, 25, self-extricated according to California Highway Patrol (CHP) Officer Randy Forslund.
The solo-vehicle crash that landed the truck in the lake occurred on Friday just after 9 p.m. on Highway 20 in Lucerne, near Bender Road.
Initially Perez and Stutsman fled the scene. The two later returned. They were checked for injuries and subsequently arrested; Perez for DUI and Stutsman for being drunk in public.
The men, who live in Sacramento, were coming to Lake County for Mother”s Day.
Lake County Sheriff”s Office, California Highway Patrol and Northshore Fire Protection District and Dive team responded. Jen Wangberg volunteer firefighter from Northshore Fire Protection District, who is also a teacher at Lucerne Elementary School, assisted.
After the truck was pulled from the water by a tow truck, the dive team retrieved items floating in the water; a golf bag, a backpack and pieces of the vehicle.
The crash is under investigation by CHP Officer Frederick.
Mandy Feder can be reached at mandyfeder@yahoo.com or call directly 263-5636 ext. 32.
