Man sinks car into Yakima River to 'fill up radiator' with water

YAKIMA, Wash. (KIMA) — Emergency crews responded Tuesday to an SUV that drivers spotted submerged in the Yakima River, but the Yakima County Sheriff's Office says the driver claims he did it intentionally.

At about 11 a.m., callers said they saw the blue Suburban in the water of the Yakima River, near Century Landing, in the gap south of Yakima and Union Gap.

Sheriff's deputies responded and found the vehicle in the water and the owner nearby.

According to YCSO, the owner of the vehicle told them he had replaced the thermostat in the vehicle and needed to fill the radiator with water.

Deputies say the driver told them he intentionally drove the SUV into the water so that he could get water into the radiator.

The vehicle has been towed back out of the river.