Dog rescued from back of a pick-up truck that had rolled into fast-flowing river

A dog has been plucked to safety after a pick-up truck inadvertently rolled into the Chewuch River in the Washington town of Winthrop.



With the aid of guidelines anchored to the river banks, Vikki Buzzard and Ottis Buzzard, members of the county’s Swiftwater Rescue Team, manoeuvred an inflatable raft to the back of the Ford F-150’s bed and rescued Jessie, owned by Paul Picolet of Twisp, at about 1pm on Saturday. Picolet’s truck had rolled into the river at about 11am, and drifted downstream before coming to a rest in rapid water.

Picolet was not in the truck when it rolled into the river, but Jessie endured the adventure with relative calm. The dog waited in the truck, clearly nervous but not showing any inclination to leave, while the rescue team arrived, strategized how to reach the truck and retrieve the dog safely, and prepared their gear. Dog and owner were happy to reunite after the Buzzards brought Jessie to shore.


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She shook off her coat and cavorted on the river bank, but stopped short of bounding back into the water. Janet Verkuyl of Winthrop, Picolet’s mother, said she was grateful for the response and professionalism of the rescue team. Personnel from the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office, Aero Methow Rescue Service, Okanogan County Fire District 6 and the Winthrop Marshal’s Office responded to the incident.