MASON CITY – Today at 12:19 PM, a person reported a car had gone off Birch Drive, flipped over as it went down the embankment, and landed on its roof in the Winnebago River. The caller reported that there were people trapped inside the vehicle, which was partially submerged in the river.
Macon City police officers arrived at 12:22 pm, entered the river, and began trying to remove the occupants. The car was damaged from the crash which hindered the officers’ ability to get into the car. Once the officers were able to get a door pried open, they removed two unconscious occupants, Dustin McMurry (age 17) and Colby Schmidtke (age 16), from the car.
Mason city Fire department personal arrived and personnel began applying first aid to the two occupants. A third occupant, Tyler Ridder (age 16), was injured but managed to escape from the vehicle prior to the officer’s arrival. All three subjects are from Mason City.
Mason City Fire Department personnel transported Schmidtke and Mcmurry to Mercy ER. Ridder went to the hospital but not by ambulance.
The crash is currently under investigation. The car, a Pontiac Grand Prix, was driven by McMurry. Mason City police were were assisted by the Mason City Fire Dept, Iowa State Patrol, Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Department, Iowa DNR, and the Mason City Operations and Maintenance personnel.
More updates on this incident to come.