Driver survives 20-foot plunge into Blue River in Overland Park

A 59-year-old man survived a 20-foot fall into the Blue River after his minivan left the road in southern Overland Park on Monday evening, Oct. 26.

The driver was headed south on Kenneth Road near 159th Street when the road curved slightly and his van continued straight, according to the Johnson County Post. The minivan crashed through at least one tree and dropped 20 feet into the Blue River, overturning and coming to rest on its passenger side in the water.

Overland Park Police Sgt. Dianna Johnson told the Post at the scene that officers received a crash notification from the man's phone but could not immediately find the wreck. A cellphone location ping ultimately led police to the van in the woods near the 15600 block of Kenneth Road.

Driver walked out with officers

Police helped the man out of the overturned minivan around 7:40 P.M., and he walked back up to the road with officers, according to recorded radio traffic cited by the Post. Firefighters from Overland Park and Leawood had responded alongside Johnson County Med-Act paramedics for a possible water rescue.

Paramedics transported the driver to an area hospital with minor cuts and scrapes.

Recovery proved difficult

Getting the van out of the river was another matter. A tow truck operator at the scene told the Post the vehicle sat about 30 feet off the road and at the bottom of a sheer 20-foot cliff.

The first tow operator's winch line snapped during the attempt. Two more trucks from the same company also failed to pull the van free. By midnight, that company determined it lacked the equipment for the job.

As of 1 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27, a second tow company had been called and was heading to the scene with a larger truck. The Post’s report did not say whether the van was ultimately recovered.