Driver rescued from car in Lake Lanier

HALL COUNTY, Ga. — A man is rescued from his car after he loses control and ends up in Lake Lanier.

Channel 2’s Liz Artz was on the scene Monday as crews worked to pull a blue Dodge Caravan from Lake Lanier four hours after Johnnie Jackson went off McEver Road, through a guardrail, down an embankment and into Lake Lanier.

Boater Lorne McCaslin was in the water at the time, only feet away. He told Artz he didn't see the van go in, but he heard it.

“It just hit me weird enough that I thought: Look back. And I saw the end of car up in the air slowly sinking in, said McCaslin.

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In an exclusive interview McCaslin told Artz he turned his boat around and called 911. He said he was prepared to jump in the lake and go after Jackson. He wanted to make sure the driver was not trapped inside the minivan.

"Ten seconds before I was going to jump, the guy came out of the water." McCaslin said.
McCaslin snapped a picture of the 56-year-old, lying on top of his van while the two waited for help.

“Can you get over here? he asked. He said Jackson told him: “No! No! I think my back (is) broken," McCaslin said.

He said within minutes the Hall County Fire Department was on scene and rescuers were in the water. News Chopper 2 flew overhead while crews were working to make sure everyone was out of the van.

“He said he blacked out. Of course once it happened I'm sure he did." McCaslin told Artz

Firefighters used McCaslin's boat to carry Jackson to a nearby marina where an ambulance was waiting. Jackson faces a number of charges to include driving on a suspended license, and no proof of insurance.
 

Cox Media Group