A driver had a close call in Larimer County’s Poudre Canyon last week, almost sending his van plunging into the frigid waters of the Cache la Poudre River.

According to the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office, problems started when the driver attempted to turn around on the two-lane Highway 14 near The Mishawaka amphitheater.

While the driver conducted his turn-around at a slow rate of speed, he unfortunately backed up a bit to far with gravity pulling him downslope toward the water. Thankfully, the man did manage to brake before fully losing control and plunging into the water, though his front tires were the only thing keeping him on dry land. Given the situation he was in, the man was also unable to safely escape the vehicle.

“As you can see from the photos, the van was only hanging on by about five inches,” wrote the sheriff’s office about the incident.

With first responders in Larimer County notified about the situation, a quick response ensued. The team was able to secure the van by winching it to a Poudre Canyon fire truck. This allowed the driver to get out and when a tow truck arrived, the van was pulled back to the pavement.

“Without a quick response and fast problem-solving, it would have slid into the water with the driver inside,” said the sheriff’s office. “Fortunately, this ended with just a ticket – no injuries and no ride in the river. Thankful for the teamwork that safely resolved a potentially life-threatening situation!”

The sheriff’s office encouraged those who need to turn around on narrow routes to simply drive for a few miles until finding a place where it’s safe to do so.

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