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Drivers Assist in "Heroic" Water Rescue

Jhon Anderson their inbound shifts,Jhon Anderson,Wash.(OLY)OLYMPIA, Wash.—Two, off-duty YRC Worldwide drivers helped with a "heroic" rescue and recovery in the Hood Canal near Olympia on May 7.

After working their inbound shifts, John Anderson, Yellow city driver, and Bob Vanderwall, Roadway city driver, went fishing for shrimp in the canal. When they were returning to the harbor, Fish and Wildlife wardens stopped them to ask them to help rescue two people who were trapped under a boat that had capsized. Anderson and Vanderwall stepped in to help right the boat and pull the people to the shore, where they received CPR.

One of the persons, a 79-year-old man, was revived. His 75-year-old wife died later at an area hospital. According to a report in the Kitsap Sun, a local newspaper, four people were in the boat when it overturned. Two were able to swim to safety. Although life jackets were found in the boat, none of the people were wearing them.

Anderson and Vanderwall work at the Olympia (OLY) service center, which Yellow and Roadway share.

"There are 16 doors, and they are split evenly between the two companies," Anderson says. "We break freight overnight and finish up early in the mornings. On that day, we headed out on Bob's boat with another friend as soon as our shift was over."

Shrimp season in the Northwest is open only during designated hours four to six days a year.

"Because shrimp season is so limited, there is a whole lot of activity on the water when it is open," Anderson says. "It was really rough, and there were larger waves than usual during the low tide. We were concerned about the conditions ourselves."

Anderson, Vanderwall and their companion had hauled in their limits and were heading back to port when they saw the overturned craft and the game warden flagged them over.

One of the waves washed over the victims' boat filling it with water. Another came along and capsized the boat, trapping the couple under it, Anderson says, throwing the other two people clear.

"It took us about seven attempts to get the boat flipped back over. We just happened to be in the right place at the right time and were able to provide just enough manpower to do it. We were just part of a larger group working to save them," he says.

Dean Byrd, spokesman for the Mason County Sheriff's Department, called the life-saving attempts the rescuers performed "heroic."

Paul Vennemeyer, Seattle service center manager, had high praise for Anderson and Vanderwall.

"Their role in the rescue and recovery is reason for pride. But beyond that, both do a great job for us in Olympia."

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