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Man who rescued suspected drunk driver who crashed into lake says 'we knew he was going in'

Posted at 5:57 PM, Feb 18, 2019
and last updated 2019-02-19 08:11:02-05

LEXINGTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WXYZ) — Joshua Phillips was out ice fishing in the Lexington Harbor on Saturday when a guy driving a pickup rode onto the ice and continued out where the ice was thin.

“We knew he was going in, so we had time to kind of plan it out I guess,” Phillips said.

The video shows the 62-year-old man from Kimball Township is able to get out. He jumps and falls flat, hitting the back of his head.

The video continues rolling and shows the man goes back to his pickup as it goes underwater. The man is rescued by a small group of guys that includes Phillips, who was there with cleats on his boots, a rope in his hand and stone cold serious.

“I kinda had a one-track mind and at the time got the rope to the guy," Phillips said. "I was freaked out afterwords, though.”

Lexington Police Chief Larry Sheldon was also out there and says the man is expected to be charged with driving while intoxicated. The chief says the man consented to having his blood drawn and is on body camera video.

He has been released and will have to tell his story in front of a judge when he is charged.