Body of Ellington Resident Recovered From Coventry Lake

COVENTRY, CT — The body of a man recovered from Coventry Lake Wednesday evening has been identified as Dieter Zumpe, 53, of Ellington, according to state police.

A 911 emergency call was received around 12:15 p.m., indicating a vehicle had driven off the Coventry Lake boat launch and become submerged in the water. The vehicle operator was reported to have briefly come up to the surface of the water, but quickly went back under, police said.

Emergency responders from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection police, Coventry, Vernon and the Connecticut State Police dive team made several attempts to locate the driver, and a Coventry police officer entered the water in an unsuccessful attempt to locate the occupant of the mostly submerged vehicle, police said.

The Tolland County dive team searched the water for the driver, but was also unable to locate him. The state police dive team continued the search, and the body was recovered shortly before 5 p.m., police said.

The vehicle has been removed from the lake, according to police.

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