Four rescued from sand bar in Prairie Creek

CEDAR RAPIDS - Four people were rescued from a swiftly flowing creek after their amphibious vehicle capsized Wednesday morning.

Cedar Rapids Fire Department Battalion Chief Andy Olesen said fire crews and police were called to Prairie Creek near J Street and Hawkeye Downs Road SW before 10 a.m. for a report of a motor vehicle accident, possibly involving an ATV. While they were en route, responders were notified that the incident involved four people who were riding in an amphibious vehicle that had capsized in the creek. The four occupants had managed to get to a sand bar in the creek, Olesen said.

Because there was no nearby boat ramp, fire crews were forced to deploy inflatable rescue boats that they took down the creek to rescue the four people. While there were no reported injuries, conditions on the creek made things potentially perilous.

'The water's clearly up right now,” Olesen said. 'It's moving fast.”

Olesen said the vehicle, which he described as having eight wheels and a 'boat-like hull,” was still stuck in the creek. He wasn't certain how it capsized, but said they would wait until water levels went down before it would be retrieved.

With the water moving swiftly, Olesen said the four people were fortunate to get onto the sandbar where they awaited rescue.