Driver rescued on Highway 99 after truck rolls into ditch

One man is alive after being rescued by two other drivers andRichmond authorities, after his truck rolled into a ditch around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday.

The man was driving northbound on Highway 99 when the accident occurred,not too far from the George Massey Tunnel.

Jeremy Birch, whowas driving by when he saw the accident happen, saidhe and another driver pulled over right away to help the man and call police.

"I just climbed down into the ditch," said Birch, who was covered in mud after staying behind to help authorities.

"The truck was partially underwater... he [the driver]said he was running out of air... Icould hear himgurgling water."

Birch saidhe and the other driver tried to pry the doors open toget the man out, but couldn't.

"He was pretty sucked into the bottom of the ditch there," said Birch.

When Richmond RCMPand firefighters arrived on scene, Birch and the other driver stayed to help rescue the man from the vehicle.

Police said the driverwas transported to hospital with minor injuries, after being rescued.

Birch saidhe is keeping the driver's dog for him, and plans to return it soon.

"I told him his dog's in good hands," said Birch. "I got a little dog... they're hanging out in the car getting warm."

RCMPre-opened northbound traffic on Highway 99 at12:54 a.m.

The exact cause of the accident is unknown.