On 3/11/2021 at approximately 10 am, a 2008 GMC Acadia was traveling westbound on Twin Cities Road approaching River Road. As the GMC approached the T-intersection, the driver, a 67 year old male out of Oakland, had a medical emergency and accelerated the GMC to 50 MPH. The GMC continued through the intersection and left the roadway and flew into the Sacramento River.
Crashed vehicle in the Sacramento River. Photo Credit~ Keoua Medeiros
As the GMC began to sink below the surface of the river, the driver climbed to the top of his vehicle and yelled at witnesses on shore that he did not know how to swim. Chris Arias, a 39-year-old male out of Antioch, Ca had witnessed the incident and was standing on the bank of the river when he heard the driver state that he could not swim. Mr. Arias immediately jumped into the river and swam to the GMC. Mr. Arias told the driver to hold onto his back and swam back to shore with the driver holding on to him, saving the drivers life. The driver of the GMC did not sustain injuries as a result of the collision but was transported to a local hospital as a precaution. When investigating officers spoke to the driver, he stated that he would of died if it wasn’t for Mr. Arias.
Good Samaritan Rescues Driver In The Sacramento River. Photo Credit~ Keoua Medeiros
The South Sacramento CHP Area would like to commend Mr. Arias on his heroic actions. Without his brave actions, the driver of the GMC would surely have perished.
Article by CHP – South Sacramento
Media Story Coverage:
CBS Sacramento – Antioch Man Rescues Driver Who Crashed Into Sacramento River, Pleaded For Help
FOX40 – Antioch man rescues driver who crashed into Sacramento River
KRON4 – Antioch man rescues Oakland driver who crashed into Sacramento River
