‘Right place, right time’: Landscaper rescues trapped driver from Naperville pond
Landscaper rescues trapped driver from Naperville pond
A bystander helped rescue the driver of a car that went into a pond in suburban Naperville Wednesday morning.
NAPERVILLE, Ill. - A local landscaper jumped into action, rescuing the driver of an SUV that crashed into a pond in suburban Naperville on Wednesday morning.
Now, he is to thank for saving her life.
What we know:
Just before 10 a.m., the Plainfield Fire Protection District, in collaboration with the Naperville Fire Department, responded to a call of a car submerged in a pond near the intersection of Royal Worlington Drive and Route 59, according to a news release.
The driver was trapped inside her vehicle after a crash sent her veering off the road and into the water, officials said. The ordeal could have ended up much worse if it weren’t for an observant worker in the area.
A landscaper working near the Whispering Lakes subdivision saw the accident unfold and hurried into the water without hesitation, according to officials with the Plainfield Fire Protection District.
"She was panicking, she couldn't swim," said Battalion Chief Michael Obman, with the Plainfield Fire Protection District.
While her vehicle was sinking, the Good Samaritan kept the woman afloat and held her head above water until emergency responders arrived at the scene.
When crews arrived, they found the woman’s vehicle partially submerged in about six feet of water.
"She was just clinging to it," Obman said. "[The landscaper] was there long enough to keep her calm. He was in the water, I would say probably mid-chest, mud up to his knees. He was just in the right place at the right time."
Firefighters then got the driver to safety.
"We donned all of our protective equipment, grabbed and pulled her to shore," Obman said.
The driver and another party involved in the accident declined to be taken to the hospital. The landscaper was also uninjured.
Divers from the Plainfield Fire Protection District helped a towing company safely remove the car from the water.
Now, muddy tire tracks are a reminder of the scary ordeal and brave rescue. Obman shared helpful advice in the unexpected event you find yourself in a similar situation.
"I think immediately, if you can get your car windows down, start rolling them down. With the new glass and things like that that we have in vehicles, there’s no way you’re going to push that window down or pull that window down," Obman said. "And if you happen to have one of the little center punches or glass breakers, we definitely encourage people carry those in their vehicles."
What we don't know:
It's unclear what caused the initial car crash. Illinois State Police also responded to the scene and is the agency handling the accident investigation.