Racine officials pull car from Root River

RACINE, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Rescue crews pulled a car out of the Root Rive near Dodge and Main Street on Saturday, Dec. 30 in Racine. 

On Saturday morning, employees at the Chartroom Restaurant next to the River's End Marina heard a loud noise. 

“It didn’t even sound like it was right here because of the echoes and everything," said Michelle Schimian, the Chartroom manager.

At approximately 12:30 a.m., a silver 2014 Dodge Grand Caravan was traveling southbound at a high rate of speed on Michigan Blvd approaching the 200 block of Dodge St. in the City of Racine. The vehicle entered the parking lot of the Chartroom Reasturant, struck a retaining wall, went air born, and entered the river. The vehicle sank into the water.

Multiple law enforcement agencies, fire/rescue departments, and dive teams responded to the scene.

"They really did an amazing job through these tragic events and really put their lives at risk as well diving into cold water with these horrible temperatures," said Shimian.

Ultimately, the Sheriff’s Dive Team and the Racine Fire Department Dive Team located the sunken vehicle and recovered the operator and sole occupant of the vehicle who was dead at the scene.

The operator is only being identified as a 78-year-old male at this time.

The Racine Sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Bureau is actively investigating this incident.