Rescue team recovers SUV from Esopus Creek

MARBLETOWN, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Ulster County Sheriff's Office reported that an SUV was recovered from the Esopus Creek on Friday. No one was injured during the operation.

On November 28 around 2:28 a.m., the sheriff's office received reports of a submerged Jeep Grand Cherokee in the creek near Fording Place Road in Marbletown. Deputies responding to the scene located the driver and passenger, who had both safely made their way to the shore.

The initial investigation determined that the driver was traveling on Route 209 when they reportedly tried taking a shortcut across a shallow section of the creek to reach Hurley Mountain Road. Deputies say the driver misjudged the water's depth and current, resulting in the vehicle being overtaken by the flow.

The SUV was recovered by the Ulster County Sheriff’s In-Water Rescue Team on November 29. The team utilized tow straps and a cable, eventually pulling the vehicle from the creek with assistance from Perry's Towing.

The sheriff's office stated that the Jeep's driver may face charges for environmental infractions as well as vehicle and traffic violations. The investigation remains ongoing.