Van Buren County Deputies Rescue 79-Year-Old from River

Four Van Buren County Sheriff's Office personnel received awards for rescuing a 79-year-old man from a river after he wandered from his vehicle during a medical emergency.

Deputy Jason Erickson, Deputy Cody Bingaman, K9 Charlie, and Sergeant Larry Weers earned the honors at the May 12 Van Buren County Board of Commissioners meeting for their actions on April 17.

Erickson responded to a report of an abandoned vehicle in a residential backyard and determined through phone interviews that the driver had left on foot during a medical crisis. Weers deployed a drone and coordinated search efforts with Bingaman and K9 Charlie, who tracked from the vehicle to a nearby river. Bingaman entered the water and pulled the man to safety while Weers maintained aerial observation. The man received emergency medical treatment and transport to the hospital.

Sheriff Daniel E. Abbott and Undersheriff Casey Davis presented the awards. Erickson and Weers each received the Sheriff's Award of Excellence. Bingaman and K9 Charlie received the Life Saving Award.