Car Drives Into Town Pool In New Canaan, Driver Rescued By Lifeguards, Officers: Police

NEW CANAAN, CT — A car drove through a fence and into the Steve Benko Pool at Waveny Park late Tuesday morning, according to the New Canaan Police Department.

In a news release, Police Lt. Marc DeFelice said police, fire and EMS were called to the park around 10:30 a.m. after receiving a report of vehicle that drove into the pool.

According to DeFelice, the pool was empty and closed at the time of the incident, and no injuries were reported.

Multiple lifeguards and officers entered the pool to help the driver out of the vehicle, DeFelice said.

DeFelice also noted the driver was the sole occupant of the vehicle.

The driver reported he was not injured but was taken to a hospital by New Canaan EMS for evaluation, DeFelice said.

According to DeFelice, a preliminary investigation revealed the driver was trying to park the car, however it accelerated through the perimeter fence and into the pool.

The cause of the incident remains under investigation, according to DeFelice.

A video posted by News 12 Connecticut showed the car in the middle of the pool with lifeguards and firefighters nearby on land.

In a separate news release, Interim Fire Chief William Perritt said the electric vehicle drove from the parking lot through a gate and into the swimming pool.

According to Perritt, a New Canaan lifeguard immediately sprang into action, diving into the pool and making contact with the driver.

When police arrived in the area, multiple officers also entered the water, Perritt said.

Working as a team, the lifeguard and officers broke a window, opened the door and removed the driver on a backboard, according to Perritt.

The driver was taken out of the pool and evaluated by arriving firefighters, Perritt said.

According to Perritt, command staff met and devised a vehicle removal plan utilizing a rotator tow truck.

Crews consulted with hazmat guides and ensured there were no additional hazards due to an electric vehicle in the water, Perritt said.

New Canaan and Stamford firefighters then entered the pool in water rescue suits and attached slings to the vehicle, allow it to be removed from the pool, according to Perritt.

The car was removed by a tow company and placed on a flatbed tow truck while firefighters stood by with a hose line in case the battery was damaged and caused a vehicle fire, according to Perritt.

The vehicle was removed from the area without further incident, Perritt said.

"This was an unusual and challenging incident that required numerous agencies to operate together under a unified command structure to mitigate an emergency with many challenges," Perritt said in a news release. "From the lifeguard who immediately jumped into action, to the police officers who entered the water, firefighters who assessed the driver while stabilizing the scene, to EMS who treated and transported the driver, all first responders operated professionally and safely."

Perritt also thanked the tow truck operators for their skillful work removing the vehicle from the pool.

"We are grateful that there were no serious injuries today," Perritt said. "This is a reminder of the complex and dynamic events that first responders may encounter each day."