High-Speed Chase Ends In Green River Rescue

AUBURN - Being saved from drowning was probably the last thing on a suspected car thief's mind when he woke up Friday morning, but that was the case after a high-speed car chase ended with one suspect saved from nearly drowning in the Green River.

It all began early Friday morning when three people were seen stripping a car at Auburn's Flaming Geyser Park. When King County Sheriff's deputies arrived, the men took off in a stolen van, leading police on a high-speed chase down Green Valley Road.

When the pursuit got too dangerous, the deputies called off the chase. But that's when the three men jumped out of the van and fled on foot.

One man jumped into the Green River, and then got stranded in the middle of the chilly river. Deputies had to come to his rescue.

"We waded into the river... as far as we could and still be safe," said King County Sheriff's Sgt. Bryan Howard. "We threw a rope to him and pulled him back to the shallow part of the river."

When asked if it was a willing rescue, Howard responded: "At that point, he was very willing and appreciative that we were there."

That suspect was suffering from hypothermia and was taken to a local hospital. Police found the second suspect hiding in the woods along the Green River -- also wet, shivering and suffering symptoms of hypothermia. He was receiving medical treatment.

The third suspect still missing. Police believe he could be hiding in the woods -- or he might have also gone into the river, which might have been a fatal mistake. The river is running very strong and is very cold, and police say it wouldn't take long before the cold water would kill you.

Police had search teams looking both in and along the river, as well as the nearby woods.