Rollin’ in the river: Pickup fished from Yadkin River
Published 12:36 am Friday, April 5, 2019
Sean Phillips' Ford pickup sits in the Yadkin River. Jon C. Lakey/Salisbury post
Onlookers record the operation on cellphones. Jon C. Lakey/Salisbury Post
Danny Sams of the Davidson County Rescue Squad works to hook the tow line to the truck. Jon C. Lakey/Salisbury Post
Tyler Spears hands Danny Sams of the Davidson County Rescue Squad a j-hook to attach the receiver hitch on the back of the truck in the water. Jon C. Lakey/Salisbury Post
Sean Phillips watches as Tracy's Towing of Lexington pulls the truck out of the water. Jon C. Lakey/Salisbury Post
Brenda Belfonti stepped out in the edge of the water to retrieve one of Sean Phillips' boots that was floating nearby. Jon C. Lakey/Salisbury Post
What started out as a nice day and a nice way to spend a birthday ended with astonishment for Sean Phillips of Salisbury on Thursday afternoon at York Hill Boat access on the Yadkin River in Davidson County.
Phillips had just finished tying down his inflatable boat to the bed of a pickup and was leaving to go home to help his mother in the yard when he said the truck started rolling toward the water.
Phillips said he pumped the brake pedal but the truck did not stop. In a matter of seconds, the red Ford truck had rolled into the water.
Phillips had to crawl out of the cab onto the top of the truck.
A witness nearby said fishermen in a boat got Phillips back to shore.
No one was injured.
Family members came to pick him up but not before fishing out a single boot that was left in the water.
