Dramatic Rescue At Center Lake
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Police and firefighters dove into their jobs early this morning to complete a dramatic rescue of an 81-year-old man who drove into Center Lake.
A passerby who saw the van sinking in the water off the boat ramp called 911. Stephen Michael Rudisel of Warsaw told police the driver of the van ran a red light just prior to the incident. Rudisel turned around to see where the van went and saw it in the lake.
Rudisel didn't see anybody get out of the van and waited for emergency crews to arrive.
When police arrived on the scene, the van was already half submerged about 30 yards off shore. The driver of the van, Robert C. Lenson of Hobart, was still in the vehicle. He was the sole occupant of the van.
Warsaw Police Department Ptl. Joel Beam swam out to the sinking van and yelled for Lenson to get into the back of the van because the front portion of the vehicle was going under water faster. Warsaw Fire Department firefighter Travis Rowland joined Beam in the water and, after Beam swam back in for a tool to break a window, Lenson was pulled from the van and he and his rescuers were pulled to shore. The van was submerged, with just the top of it showing at the water line when Lenson was freed.
According to information filed by the WPD, Lenson was lost and reportedly stopped at a gas station for directions. He told police that his granddaughter, who was in the van when he stopped, was not in the vehicle when he returned to it. He allegedly was driving around looking for the girl when he drove off the boat ramp on Buffalo Street and into the lake. No information was provided on the police reports as to the whereabouts of the girl or whether she was even in the van before the accident occurred.
Charges are possible against Lenson pending the outcome of a blood test. Preliminary tests indicate the presence of alcohol in Lenson's system, police said.
After the incident, Lenson was admitted to Kosciusko Community Hospital, where he was listed in stable condition late this morning.
Beam was treated at KCH for cuts to his hands and later released. [[In-content Ad]]
Police and firefighters dove into their jobs early this morning to complete a dramatic rescue of an 81-year-old man who drove into Center Lake.
A passerby who saw the van sinking in the water off the boat ramp called 911. Stephen Michael Rudisel of Warsaw told police the driver of the van ran a red light just prior to the incident. Rudisel turned around to see where the van went and saw it in the lake.
Rudisel didn't see anybody get out of the van and waited for emergency crews to arrive.
When police arrived on the scene, the van was already half submerged about 30 yards off shore. The driver of the van, Robert C. Lenson of Hobart, was still in the vehicle. He was the sole occupant of the van.
Warsaw Police Department Ptl. Joel Beam swam out to the sinking van and yelled for Lenson to get into the back of the van because the front portion of the vehicle was going under water faster. Warsaw Fire Department firefighter Travis Rowland joined Beam in the water and, after Beam swam back in for a tool to break a window, Lenson was pulled from the van and he and his rescuers were pulled to shore. The van was submerged, with just the top of it showing at the water line when Lenson was freed.
According to information filed by the WPD, Lenson was lost and reportedly stopped at a gas station for directions. He told police that his granddaughter, who was in the van when he stopped, was not in the vehicle when he returned to it. He allegedly was driving around looking for the girl when he drove off the boat ramp on Buffalo Street and into the lake. No information was provided on the police reports as to the whereabouts of the girl or whether she was even in the van before the accident occurred.
Charges are possible against Lenson pending the outcome of a blood test. Preliminary tests indicate the presence of alcohol in Lenson's system, police said.
After the incident, Lenson was admitted to Kosciusko Community Hospital, where he was listed in stable condition late this morning.
Beam was treated at KCH for cuts to his hands and later released. [[In-content Ad]]