Champaign County, IL – Early Tuesday morning, a severe weather-related crash on I-57 led to a dramatic rescue operation, as four individuals and three dogs were pulled from a water-filled drainage ditch.
Illinois State Police report that the accident happened near the U.S. Route 45 exit, with the car traveling off-road into the median for about 200 feet before coming to a stop in the ditch. Rescue teams from the Pesotum Fire Department, aided by the Cornbelt Fire Protection District’s water rescue unit, conducted the successful operation. The rescued individuals are now recovering in an Urbana hospital and are expected to make a full recovery.
Champaign County Animal Control, which took the dogs into safekeeping immediately following the incident, confirmed they were unharmed and have been reunited with their owner.
