Water Rescue Turns Fatal In Dayton
Mike Campbell, Reporter
Posted: 10:24 pm EST March 3, 2009Updated: 2:16 pm EST March 4, 2009
DAYTON, Ohio -- A woman in her 60s has died after the car she was driving plunged into an icy pond.
The crash happened around 10 p.m. Tuesday at the eastbound Route 35 ramp from Gettysburg Avenue in Dayton.
Firefighters worked for 90 minutes to pull the woman out of her submerged vehicle, but she died early Wednesday morning at Miami Valley Hospital.
Police said the woman was traveling east on Route 35 when she tried to exit onto Gettysburg Avenue, lost control, slammed through a guardrail and drove into the pond.
Sgt. Joseph Wiesman said, Ÿe got here and the vehicle was all underwater. You could see the lights down under the water.
IMAGES Of Van Into Icy Pond
Dozens of Dayton firefighters and police officers arrived and began to work on freeing the woman. Firefighters said since they had no trained divers available to dive to the car and hook a cable to its frame, two firefighters put on wet suits and went into the frigid water.
The firefighters were tethered to other firefighters on shore and were watched closely by two others in a boat.
Firefighters managed to get a wire around the door of the vehicle, but they were only able to tow it about 8 feet before the door broke loose.
Firefighters then managed to get a cable more securely around the car and pull it out of the water with the use of a tow truck.
The woman was quickly removed, wrapped for warmth and then carried her to a waiting ambulance. She was taken to Miami Valley Hospital, where she later died.
Upset and disappointed firefighters said budget cuts that have accumulated over the years have limited their options.
District Fire Chief Mark Whisman said, Ūf we would have had a dive team, we would have had her out in 15 minutes. Absolutely would have made a difference.
He said, ŪtÃÔ very frustrating; you'd have to talk to politicians about that, as a fire chief, it's very frustrating."
Wiesman said, "Due to the fact that she traveled a far distance and there was no signs of braking, this may have been a medical condition that caused her to lose control."
Firefighters said Box 21, a volunteer dive team in Dayton, did not have any divers in town on Tuesday night, and the nearest dive team they could contact was in Piqua. That dive team was enroute when firefighters cancelled them after getting the woman out.
The woman's name has not been released.
THIS SOUNDS LIKE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR A LAWSUIT... IT REMINDS ME OF THE OLD SAYBROOK, CT CASE DISCUSSED PREVIOUSLY.
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/pu...n-being-sued-not-having-dive-rescue-team.html
Mike Campbell, Reporter
Posted: 10:24 pm EST March 3, 2009Updated: 2:16 pm EST March 4, 2009
DAYTON, Ohio -- A woman in her 60s has died after the car she was driving plunged into an icy pond.
The crash happened around 10 p.m. Tuesday at the eastbound Route 35 ramp from Gettysburg Avenue in Dayton.
Firefighters worked for 90 minutes to pull the woman out of her submerged vehicle, but she died early Wednesday morning at Miami Valley Hospital.
Police said the woman was traveling east on Route 35 when she tried to exit onto Gettysburg Avenue, lost control, slammed through a guardrail and drove into the pond.
Sgt. Joseph Wiesman said, Ÿe got here and the vehicle was all underwater. You could see the lights down under the water.
IMAGES Of Van Into Icy Pond
Dozens of Dayton firefighters and police officers arrived and began to work on freeing the woman. Firefighters said since they had no trained divers available to dive to the car and hook a cable to its frame, two firefighters put on wet suits and went into the frigid water.
The firefighters were tethered to other firefighters on shore and were watched closely by two others in a boat.
Firefighters managed to get a wire around the door of the vehicle, but they were only able to tow it about 8 feet before the door broke loose.
Firefighters then managed to get a cable more securely around the car and pull it out of the water with the use of a tow truck.
The woman was quickly removed, wrapped for warmth and then carried her to a waiting ambulance. She was taken to Miami Valley Hospital, where she later died.
Upset and disappointed firefighters said budget cuts that have accumulated over the years have limited their options.
District Fire Chief Mark Whisman said, Ūf we would have had a dive team, we would have had her out in 15 minutes. Absolutely would have made a difference.
He said, ŪtÃÔ very frustrating; you'd have to talk to politicians about that, as a fire chief, it's very frustrating."
Wiesman said, "Due to the fact that she traveled a far distance and there was no signs of braking, this may have been a medical condition that caused her to lose control."
Firefighters said Box 21, a volunteer dive team in Dayton, did not have any divers in town on Tuesday night, and the nearest dive team they could contact was in Piqua. That dive team was enroute when firefighters cancelled them after getting the woman out.
The woman's name has not been released.
THIS SOUNDS LIKE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR A LAWSUIT... IT REMINDS ME OF THE OLD SAYBROOK, CT CASE DISCUSSED PREVIOUSLY.
http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/pu...n-being-sued-not-having-dive-rescue-team.html