Man Dies After Car Goes Into Libertyville Retention Pond

LIBERTYVILLE, IL — A man died Monday afternoon after his vehicle went into a retention pond on Northwind Boulevard, according to police. Police had advised drivers to avoid the area between Peterson and Winchester due to a serious crash.

Libertyville police said officers and firefighters were dispatched to U.S. Highway 45 and Northwind Boulevard for a single-vehicle crash at 4:46 p.m. Monday. Multiple 911 callers said a vehicle had gone into a large pond near the intersection and the driver was still inside the car.

Libertyville firefighters, assisted by several other Lake County fire departments, worked to remove the driver from the car and began administering medical care, police said.

Firefighters attempted to put a lifejacket on the driver and pull him out of the vehicle, according to ABC Chicago, and a diver went in to try to rescue the man after the car began to sink. At one point, authorities said the vehicle's trunk opened, causing the car to sink even faster.

The man, who appeared to be in his early 30s, was in the water for 20 to 25 minutes, authorities told WGN.

Libertyville police said the driver was taken to Advocate Condell Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. His identity is being withheld pending notification of family, according to police.

Police said the accident remains under investigation and "no conclusions regarding the accident have been drawn at this time."

By 8 p.m., Libertyville police said the scene was cleared and the road had reopened.

The Northern Illinois FireGround Photos Facebook page reported that authorities were responding to a vehicle in the water with entrapment in the 1600 block of Northwind Avenue, and were sending divers and sonar to the scene.

A view of the pond via Google Maps Streetview:

Check back with Patch for updates on this developing story.

Photo via Shutterstock