Rockford man dies after pickup truck is swept into Keith Creek
A 76-year-old Rockford man is dead after the pickup truck he was riding in became submerged in Keith Creek during Sunday night's storm.
The man was a passenger inside a Dodge Dakota pickup truck that entered the Schnucks parking lot about 10:15 p.m. in the 2600 block of Charles Street in Rockford.
According to the Winnebago County Coroner's office, the driver of the truck was attempting to drive through fast-moving flood waters in the parking lot when the truck was swept into the creek's current and began to sink.
The driver of the truck escaped through a window. She was eventually pulled to safety. The 76-year-old man was trapped inside the truck as it became fully submerged.
Winnebago County Sheriff’s deputies, Rockford Police Department officers and Rockford Fire Department personnel attempted to rescue the man but he could not be pulled from the truck, the release said.
After flood waters receded, the truck was pulled out of the creek and the man was pronounced dead at 1:05 a.m. Monday. An autopsy is scheduled Tuesday. The coroner’s office and Rockford police are investigating.
Jeff Kolkey writes about government, economic development and other issues for the Rockford Register Star. He can be reached at (815) 987-1374, via email at jkolkey@rrstar.com and on X @jeffkolkey.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Rockford man dies after pickup truck is submerged in flood waters
