Man who was 'just fooling around' drives truck into Willamette

MILWAUKIE, Ore. – A man who told deputies he was “just fooling around” ended up driving his Dodge pickup truck into the Willamette River on Monday afternoon, according to Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Sgt. Adam Phillips.

Phillips said Andrew McNerthney, 27, of Milwaukie, Ore. drove his 2004 Dodge pickup too far down the Oak Grove boat ramp and ended up getting the front of the truck stuck in the water.

He tried to release the emergency brake to back up the truck, but instead it rolled into the river, Phillips said. It was eventually completely submerged.

McNerthney told deputies he was on the ramp because he was “just fooling around.”

He and a passenger were both able to climb out and safely get to shore.

Divers from the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office eventually attached a tow cable to the truck and pulled it out. It was in the river for about an hour and 20 minutes.

McNerthney was cited for careless driving, Phillips said.