Crime & Safety
Man Killed In Mercer County Lake Accident ID'd; Details Revealed
He became lost in heavy rain Sunday night and accidentally drove into the lake, according to West Windsor police.
WEST WINDSOR TOWNSHIP, NJ — An 85-year-old man who was killed when his car became submerged in Mercer County Lake over the weekend was a driver who became lost in the rain and drove into the lake, West Windsor police said Wednesday morning.
The driver, identified as Calvin Madison, got lost while he was driving on Sunday night, Feb. 4, at about 9 p.m., according to the West Windsor Police Department. He drove his 2008 Ford Edge through the South Post Road parking lot (Caspersen Rowing Center side) and was trying to find his way out when he drove into the area of the Caspersen Rowing Center docks.
He then accidentally drove into Mercer County Lake along the bulkhead of the dock area, police said. At that point, police said his side impact airbag deployed inside the car and he was unable to escape. A map of the area, provided by West Windsor police, can be found below.
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The following morning, West Windsor police, fire and EMTs were called to the scene. Firefighters and EMTs entered the frigid water for a rescue operation and to determine how many people were in the car, which was mostly submerged by that point. Madison was pronounced dead on the scene. Police have classified this incident as a tragic event.
It was the second time in as many days that a car went into Mercer County Lake. On Saturday morning, a 1998 Subaru Impreza went into Gropps Lake in Hamilton Township after the driver struck the guardrail on South Broad Street near Route 195 East, according to the Hamilton Township Police Department.
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In that incident, Driver Bernadette Joseph, 40, and passenger Annelisa Forestin, 18, both of Hamilton, had to be rescued from the car by Trenton Fire Department Water Rescue 1, with the assistance of Whitehorse and Rusling hose fire departments. Both were transported to Capital Health System at Fuld, by ambulance, for their injuries and were listed in critical condition.
See related: Man Killed When Car Becomes Submerged In Mercer County Lake
Image via Shutterstock
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