Driver, 23, Dies After Car Lands In Pond Off Eola Road: Aurora Police

AURORA, IL — A person died early Tuesday morning after they were rescued from a car that plunged into a pond off Eola Road, Aurora police said.

The Aurora Fire Department and Aurora Police Department responded to the scene, at South Eola Road and Autumn Grove Circle, at 12:35 a.m. Tuesday when they found a Toyota sedan upside down and partially submerged in a pond.

At a press conference Tuesday afternoon, Police Chief Keith Cross said as far as he knew, roads were not icy, but the incident remains under preliminary investigation.

"Five officers participated in the rescue effort, with some of them courageously entering the frozen pond with temperatures reported to be below 5 degrees Fahrenheit," Cross said.

Once pulled from the water, police performed CPR on the driver, identified as 23-year-old Michael Latham, before paramedics arrived and brought him to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Officers were in the water for about a minute and were treated on the scene, according to Cross.

The Kane County Coroner's Office will perform an autopsy later this week, according to Cross, who said police are actively investigating the cause of the incident.

"Today is a very tragic day for the Aurora community," Cross said. "I would like to say my deepest condolences to the L family and their friends. The Aurora community is mourning the loss of this young man."

South Eola Road between Montgomery Road and Long Grove Drive was closed in both directions at 1:07 a.m. when police published an alert on Facebook saying they were on the scene of the incident.

"I would also like to remind drivers to exercise caution when driving on our community's roads and in order to protect the lives of themselves and others sharing the roadway," Cross said.