Man rescued after driving car into Moreau River

Several Cole County emergency agencies helped rescue a man who had to be pulled out of the Moreau River in the western part of the county Thursday night.

The sheriff's department reported the man, believed to be from Moniteau County, was trying to cross a low-water crossing on Meadows Ford Road, just after 9:30 p.m.

That area was closed to traffic due to weather conditions, but the man later told authorities he did not see the road-closed signs.

The man drove his Ford Taurus into the water, and the vehicle was swept away by the rushing water.

The man, who wasn't named, called 911 for help and, eventually, was able to get out of the car and grabbed onto a tree, awaiting rescue.

Emergency crews said the slick conditions made it harder for them to get to the scene, but they were able to reach the river and get the man to the north side of the Moreau just before 10 p.m.

A Cole County ambulance crew took the man to a local hospital to be evaluated for possible hypothermia.

Members of the Regional West and Russellvile/Lohman Fire Protection Districts were involved in the rescue effort.