STERLING, Ill. — A 3-year-old boy was rescued by his father after the vehicle he was inside of rolled into the Rock River in Sterling.
According to Sheriff John Booker, the incident happened just before 7:30 p.m. on Friday, July 5. Sheriff's deputies responded to the boat launch in the 22000 block of Moline Road to a report of a vehicle that had entered the river with a child inside.
Upon arrival, officials found a Sterling man and his 3-year-old son on the bank of the river safe.
The man told officials that he and his family had been fishing and that as they were preparing to leave, the vehicle began rolling into the river with the child inside. Bystanders called 911 upon witnessing the incident.
Officials said the man jumped into the river to rescue his son as the vehicle quickly submerged and the pair was able to return safely to shore. Both the father and son were treated at the scene.
Authorities remained on the scene for around five hours before the vehicle was eventually located and removed from the river with the help of divers.
