A pickup is pulled from the Coos River along South Coos River Lane on Thursday. Coos County sheriff’s deputies were unsure why the truck crashed into the river.-World Photo by Alex Powers

Lael Akres was in her driveway when it happened. A red pickup  crashed off South Coos River Lane and skidded into the river Thursday afternoon near the Chandler Bridge.

“It scared me,” Akres said. “As soon as I saw it happen, I ran in and called 911.”

Emergency personnel from seven agencies responded at about 1:27 p.m. to Akres’ call to dispatchers. The Chevrolet pickup, driven by John Rooke, 39, of Coos Bay, left the roadway while westbound. It sank in the Coos River  near the intersection with Lillian Creek Road.

“You can see where he drove off,” Akres said. “He just got over too far.”

According to the on-scene Coos County Sheriff’s Office deputy, Kelley Andrews, Rooke initially told witnesses he was the only person in the truck. Then he changed his story, Andrews said, claiming that another man was driving. Rooke then ran from the scene.

The North Bend Fire Department’s dive team arrived. Bystanders stood near the river watching. The dive team members settled into the water to search the pickup truck. There was no one in it, and they helped a tow truck driver pull the pickup out of the river about 4 p.m.

An Oregon State Police detective eventually caught up with Rooke. Police arrested him on charges of failure to perform the duties of a driver, initiating a false report to police, driving while suspended and driving while uninsured. He was taken to Coos County jail, where he was booked and later released on his own recognizance.

Deputies had not determined why the vehicle left the roadway, but Andrews said crashes are not unusual along Coos River roadways.

“They’re common here,” he said, “especially on the straights.”