Police: Alleged drunken driver crashes into Atwater canal

A 38-year-old man was in critical condition Wednesday, the morning after his vehicle overturned into an Atwater canal, allegedly while he was driving drunk, the Atwater Police Department reported.

Jordan Bell was taken to Doctors Medical Center in Modesto, police Lt. Samuel Joseph said. He remained in critical condition Wednesday, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Police responded at 11:23 p.m. Tuesday to the 800 block of Commerce Avenue, near Applebee’s restaurant, and found a Cadillac sedan overturned in the canal, officers said.

Joseph praised the efforts of emergency responders, including police officers Lorin Mann and Mike Rivera, who he said jumped into the canal to rescue Bell along with Cal Fire firefighters and Riggs Ambulance paramedics.

This story was originally published March 9, 2016 at 11:56 AM with the headline "Police: Alleged drunken driver crashes into Atwater canal."