Man and his dog plucked from San Bernardino County creek after driving past barricade

A man and his dog were rescued Wednesday evening in the San Bernardino National Forest after the man drove around a barricade and into a surging creek, officials said.

The vehicle was stuck in the middle of Lytle Creek.  The area northwest of San Bernardino had been saturated with more than 26 inches of rain since storms began striking the region Thursday.

"He went around a barricade," San Bernardino County Fire Department spokeswoman Tracey Martinez told The Times.

She said department swift-water rescuers had plucked several drivers from the storm-swollen Mojave River on Tuesday after they drove around barricades.

"We really want to remind people that barricades are placed for their safety," Martinez said.

-- Robert J. Lopez

Comments

[Norm Silver]

If he drove around the barricades send him the bill for the rescue operation costs and the dispatcher time consumed. Actions like this I call Felony Stupid and they should be held accountable for those stupid actions.

[Get Planted]

I sincerely hope this excellent candidate for a Darwin Award is billed for the cost of his rescue.

[ANDYM]

Send him the bill!!!

[FireRx]

Please send this fool the bill for the rescue.

[T. A. Hoffner]

So glad this man and dog are safe. A suggestion for city/county officials -- when someone must be rescued after having driven AROUND barricades erected for their protection, the person should be fined substantially ($500 - $1,000) to offset the cost of the rescue by brave men and women who put their own lives at risk.