An Aurora man died early Tuesday morning after losing control of his car which then plunged into an icy pond in a residential area of the city, officials said.
The crash prompted five Aurora police officers to dive into the pond to try and rescue the sole occupant of the car, police said.
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Aurora police officers arrived on the scene around 1 a.m. near South Eola Road and Autumn Grove Circle to find a Toyota sedan upside down and partially submerged in a retention pond, Aurora Police Chief Keith Cross said.
A preliminary investigation shows the driver lost control of the car before entering the pond, according to police.
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With temperatures around 5 degrees below zero, five Aurora officers entered the pond to pull the driver out of the car, officials said. Officers performed CPR until Aurora paramedics arrived and took the driver to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead, officials said.
Michael Latham, 23, of the 3000 block of Andover Court, was identified as the driver. An autopsy is being scheduled through the Kane County Coroner’s Office.
Cross said the officers who entered the pond were in the water for around one minute, were treated at the scene and did not need any further medical attention.
“We all know how cold it was out there,” Cross said. “They went above and beyond the call of duty, but that’s just the type of officers we have. It’s not the first time our officers have dove into frozen water and I just take my hat off to them for disregarding their own safety to try and save one of our residents.”
The police department’s Traffic Division is actively investigating the cause of the crash. Cross said road conditions did not appear to be a factor and he was not sure if the driver had a medical event.
After Latham was taken to the hospital, Aurora Fire Department Battalion Chief Jim Rhodes said a dive team ensured there were no other victims in the car or water.
Rhodes said the divers have dry suits that allow them to stay buoyant in the water and keep them dry.
“What happened with police wearing their regular duty uniform is a big deal because they don’t have the protection that we have,” Rhodes said. “They carry basic water rescue equipment like life vests and throw ropes, but not the type of gear we have.”
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Paramedics checked officers who went into the pond for signs of hypothermia because of the water temperature and the freezing air temperature. Rhodes said they also checked for any other injuries officers may have received.
“Today is a very tragic day for the Aurora community,” Cross said. “I send my deepest condolences to the Latham family and their friends. The Aurora community is mourning the loss of this young man.”
