Saturday August, 22 2015 @ 20:39

Nature: Vehicle Accident Serious

Location: Massey's Landing Boat Ramp

Address: 36634 Long Neck Rd Millsboro, DE 19966

Cross Streets: Jasper View Ln/Masseys Lndg

Man Drives Truck into Water at Massey’s Landing Boat Ramp

On Saturday evening, August 22, the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company was preparing for a firework standby assignment in the area of Pot Nets Bayside. 80 Marine 1 and Tanker 80 were already on location in Pot Nets Bayside when the Sussex County Emergency Operations Center received numerous calls for a reported vehicle in the water at the Massey’s Landing Public Boat Ramp.

The Indian River Volunteer Fire Company and the Sussex County Paramedics were immediately dispatched to vehicle incident. Indian River requested the assistance of dive units from Millville (84), Millsboro (83), and Selbyville (88) as well as side scanning sonar devices from Bethany Beach (70). The Delaware State Fire Police were required to close all access roads to the Massey’s Public Boat Ramp facility and have all current patrons of the facility to vacant the area.

80 Marine 1 was assisted with vessels from the Delaware Marine Police and the United States Coast Guard from Indian River in order to maintain access to the open waterway.  All vessel access to the public boat ramp was discontinued for the duration of the incident.

Emergency response crews were immediately required to initiate mitigation efforts and evaluate the extent of the incident. It appears that a green Ford Explorer was traveling south on Long Neck Road and entered the waterway via the boat ramp. Witnesses immediately realized that the occupant did not get out of the submerged vehicle and the vehicle sank quickly.

Emergency crews immediately attempted to gain access to vehicle without success.

Side scanning sonar devices picked up information that the vehicle was approximately 30-35 feet off of the ramps and overturned. The tidal currents through Massey’s Landing were swift and the water was extremely murky hampering all visibility.

Divers were able to locate the vehicle and tied it off as well as to retrieve the occupant of the vehicle.

Tow Boat US was utilized to perform the vehicle recovery efforts.  Bunting's Garage of Dagsboro assisted with the vehicle extrication efforts.

The Delaware State Police are investigating the incident.

Additional information may be obtained by viewing the following websites:

(1)  WGMD Radio Station 92.7

http://wgmd.com/masseyslandingboatramp 

BREAKING NEWS: Man Drives Truck into Water at Massey’s Landing Boat Ramp by Alan Henney August 22, 2015

A man drove his truck into the water at the Massey’s Landing boat ramp touching off a massive rescue operation just before 8:40 p.m. Saturday. Sussex County EMS, US Coast Guard and DNREC assisted local fire companies and dive teams. The driver of the truck reportedly drove it directly into the water going about 25 m.p.h. By the time rescue crews arrived, it was completely submerged. By 9:54 p.m., the rescue operation became a recovery. The state-run ramp is at 36634 Long Neck Road in Millsboro.

UPDATED NEWS– 3:50am – Indian River Fire officials say an Explorer went into the water at the boat ramp and sank quickly – but no one got out of the vehicle. Scanning sonar showed the Explorer was about 30 feet off the ramps and was overturned. DNREC Natural Resources Police were also on hand and say that a deceased victim was recovered from the vehicle. Delaware State Police are investigating this as an intentional act by the driver and will not release further details.

(2) http://delawarefreenews.org/2015/08/23/body-recovered-after-suv-goes-in-water-at-boat-ramp/