Driver dies after crashing into water off Highway 10

Published: Aug. 24, 2018 at 9:16 PM CDT
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UPDATE 8/27:

A 44-year-old Appleton man died after his vehicle went off a bridge in Winnebago County Friday evening.

The Sheriff's Office says Miguel Bedolla Vargas suffered a medical emergency while driving. He died after the rescue.

On Aug. 25, Vargas was driving east on Highway 10 when he fell unconscious while behind the wheel.

His car hit a retaining wall and continued on the bridge. It went off the roadway, down an embankment and into a retaining pond on the east end of the bridge.

"Multiple people who witnessed this occur immediately sprung into action, entering the water to rescue and render aid to the victim, bringing him to shore and performing CPR," reads a statement from the Sheriff's Office.

Vargas died at a hospital.

The Racine St. off-ramp was closed for more than four hours for investigation and crash scene clean up.

There were no passengers in the vehicle.

"We offer of deepest condolences to the victim's family. We also offer our sincere thanks to the many people who stopped to help. Your quick actions assisted in allowing family members to be notified in a timely manner and allowed them time to respond to the hospital to be with their loved one before he passed," reads the statement.

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PREVIOUS STORY:

Firefighters rescued a driver from a car that left Highway 10 and went into water late Friday afternoon.

The Fox Crossing Fire Department says the car went off the highway at the Racine Road off-ramp and into a retention pond. The car was fully submerged.

Rescuers found bystanders performing CPR on the driver in the water. Firefighters brought the victim to shore.

The driver was taken to a hospital. The fire department doesn't know the person's condition, and no information about he driver is being made public.

Neenah-Menasha and Oshkosh dive teams confirmed there was no one else in the car.

The fire department thanked "the many bystanders that bravely entered the water" before first responders arrived. One of the bystanders had a minor injury and was treated at the scene.

Eastbound lanes of Highway 10 were closed for a few hours.