Plainfield Man, 21, Dies After Joliet Retention Pond Crash

JOLIET, IL —A young man rescued early Monday morning by the Joliet Fire Department after crashing into a retention pond on the city's far west side has died, the Will County Coroner's Office announced Tuesday. Jacob Conrad, 21, of Plainfield, was pronounced dead at AMITA Health Saint Joseph Medical Center on Monday, coroner's officials said.

Conrad was rescued from a retention pond after his car sank into 15 feet of water around 4:30 a.m. on Labor Day. Joliet Fire Chief Greg Blaskey said the young man was rushed to AMITA Health Saint Joseph Medical Center in critical condition.

The incident happened at Vision Avenue and Paradise Circle, the fire department said. The Will County Coroner's Office said that Conrad driving a vehicle that left the roadway and became submerged in the retention pond near the Joliet intersection.

"Upon arrival of initial crews, a witness reported a vehicle had left the roadway and landed in the retention pond. The car flipped over and sank in 15 feet of water," Blaskey stated.

Joliet Fire Stations 7, 8, 9 and 10 as well as on-duty and off-duty dive team members responded to the life-threatening emergency.

"Divers entered the water and found the car upside down with a victim inside. Due to the position of the vehicle and zero visibility in the retention pond, a tow truck was used to pull the vehicle to shore and the victim was removed," Joliet Fire Department reports show.

The Will County Coroner's Office said the Joliet Police Department is investigating the circumstances involving the fatal crash.