SPRING VALLEY TOWNSHIP - A rookie Rock County Sheriff's deputy was treated for frostbite and hypothermia after rescuing a rural Brodhead man from a creek in Spring Valley Township, according to a news release from the Rock County Sheriff's Department.
The accident took place at 9:53 p.m. Saturday near South Bohnhoff Road, south of Orfordville.
Deputies from the Rock County Sheriff's Office responded to a report of a possible trespassing complaint involving suspicious vehicles in the area of W. Avon North Townline Road. On arrival, deputies found a tan, 1998 Mercury Grand Marquis down a steep embankment on its side in the creek.
A male, later identified as George W. Franklin, 40, was found unresponsive and lying face down in the water nearby. Franklin had also suffered lacerations to his head, face and hands and was bleeding profusely.
Deputy Niles Boeche entered the waist-deep water and rolled Franklin's body onto his own, pulling Franklin's head and face out of the water. Due to Franklin's size, Boeche was unable to remove him from the water until fire personnel arrived. Boeche began yelling at Franklin, who regained consciousness and kept talking to Boeche to stay alert. Boeche was in the frigid water with Franklin for several minutes before they were pulled to safety.
An investigation showed Franklin was driving westbound on W. Avon North Townline Road when he likely fell asleep at the wheel and drifted off the north shoulder of the road. Franklin's vehicle traveled more than 200 feet off the road before striking the bridge and overturning into the creek, officials said.
Franklin was transported to Mercy Hospital and Trauma Center in Janesville and later transferred to University of Wisconsin-Hospital in Madison where he was admitted with head, chest and pelvic injuries. Franklin was also treated for hypothermia and frostbite. Franklin was arrested for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and cited for open intoxicants in a motor vehicle, failure to fasten seatbelt and failure to maintain control.
Boeche was treated and released at Mercy Hospital and Trauma Center in Janesville for hypothermia, frostbite and exposure to bodily fluids. Another deputy, Anthony Barr, was also treated and released at Mercy Hospital and Trauma Center for exposure to bodily fluids as he assisted Boeche and fire personnel in removing Franklin from the water.
The accident took place at 9:53 p.m. Saturday near South Bohnhoff Road, south of Orfordville.
Deputies from the Rock County Sheriff's Office responded to a report of a possible trespassing complaint involving suspicious vehicles in the area of W. Avon North Townline Road. On arrival, deputies found a tan, 1998 Mercury Grand Marquis down a steep embankment on its side in the creek.
A male, later identified as George W. Franklin, 40, was found unresponsive and lying face down in the water nearby. Franklin had also suffered lacerations to his head, face and hands and was bleeding profusely.
Deputy Niles Boeche entered the waist-deep water and rolled Franklin's body onto his own, pulling Franklin's head and face out of the water. Due to Franklin's size, Boeche was unable to remove him from the water until fire personnel arrived. Boeche began yelling at Franklin, who regained consciousness and kept talking to Boeche to stay alert. Boeche was in the frigid water with Franklin for several minutes before they were pulled to safety.
An investigation showed Franklin was driving westbound on W. Avon North Townline Road when he likely fell asleep at the wheel and drifted off the north shoulder of the road. Franklin's vehicle traveled more than 200 feet off the road before striking the bridge and overturning into the creek, officials said.
Franklin was transported to Mercy Hospital and Trauma Center in Janesville and later transferred to University of Wisconsin-Hospital in Madison where he was admitted with head, chest and pelvic injuries. Franklin was also treated for hypothermia and frostbite. Franklin was arrested for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and cited for open intoxicants in a motor vehicle, failure to fasten seatbelt and failure to maintain control.
Boeche was treated and released at Mercy Hospital and Trauma Center in Janesville for hypothermia, frostbite and exposure to bodily fluids. Another deputy, Anthony Barr, was also treated and released at Mercy Hospital and Trauma Center for exposure to bodily fluids as he assisted Boeche and fire personnel in removing Franklin from the water.