Car Drives Into Retention Pond In Monroe: Dramatic Photos

MONROE TOWNSHIP, NJ — A woman drove her car into a retention pond Friday afternoon at a 55+ adult retirement community in Monroe Twp.

The accident happened at 12:20 p.m. this past Friday, March 29 at the Regency Community, a retirement complex on Buckelew Avenue.

Police say that the woman was attempting to park in a handicapped spot when the car accelerated, drove over the curb, across landscape rocks and into the pond. The car began to float and water started to slowly enter the vehicle.

Someone called 911 and Monroe Twp. police arrived within minutes. When they got there, the car was already partially submerged and floating. The officers jumped into the pond in full uniform. They were able to tie a rope to the vehicle and pull it towards a shallow part of the pond, the Township said in a Facebook post.

The Monroe Twp. fire department and the Monroe Twp. First Aid Squad arrived on scene and safely removed all of the occupants from the car — just minutes later, the vehicle filled entirely with water, police said.

"We are pleased to report that none of the occupants of the vehicle were injured in the crash," said Monroe Twp. in a statement. "Our quick-thinking officers are being hailed as heroes; their actions saved the residents from certain injury. Thank you to all our emergency services for always being just a phone call away whenever we need them. BRAVO!"

The driver of the car requested to be taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation. She was reportedly shaken up by the incident and the cold water.

MyCentralJersey.com reported that the women inside were all 76 to 80 years old. They were identified as Rochelle Sackaroff, 78 (the driver), Lila Holhauser, 80, Lydia Weintraub, 76 and Barbara Bigman, 78. The car was a 2018 BMW.

All photos from Monroe Twp.