Lake Swallows Woman’s SUV

Daily Herald online ^ | November 28, 2005 | Ames Boykin

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

It was a rainy day and a Monday that got one woman down.

Five hours after she reported to work at her job in Des Plaines, she discovered her black 2004 Land Rover missing from a parking lot.

That’s when she learned witnesses had reported seeing her vehicle sink to the bottom of the manmade lake outside the O’Hare Lake Office Plaza off I-294, about 15 minutes after she arrived to work in the rain.

Investigators believe another vehicle rear-ended the Land Rover, sending it down a slope into the lake, Police Chief James Prandini said.

Employees at the Federal Aviation Administration offices, which are in a different building in the O’Hare Lake complex on Devon Avenue, called authorities after seeing an SUV tipped up in the water with its lights on about 7:30 a.m., Des Plaines Fire Chief John Heavey said.

As 100 rescuers from 15 area fire departments worked to locate the submerged SUV in Peterson Lake, fire officials at about noon asked employees to move their cars to make way for a tow truck.

That’s when the unidentified woman realized her SUV was missing. The woman, who appeared shaken and upset, declined to comment.

By the time of her discovery, officials and divers had been working for about four hours. Divers initially couldn’t find a vehicle in the lake because wind kicked up dirt and created zero visibility underwater, Heavey said.

Using sonar equipment from Lake County authorities, officials at about 11:30 a.m. detected the shape of a car in the water not far from the east parking lot where the woman parked — and sent divers down about 1 p.m.

The Land Rover was found upside down 35 feet below the water. Two hours later, at 3 p.m., officials used a tow truck to drag it out of the water.

During the daylong mission, rescue boats circled the lake. Curious employees also circled the sidewalk around the lake.

Over the past decade, at least two cars have ended up in Peterson Lake, said Lori Flis, property manager for the office complex. No one was injured in the incidents, she said. The lake is about 60 feet at its deepest, officials said.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

I don't think there was any curb jumping... and according to the article this is NOT the first auto to end up in this lake, with its steepish incline.

But yes, I agree we're not getting the full story here ;-/.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

It's still, by and large, a much more conservatively-edited newspaper than the rag that the Trib has turned out to be. Each issue seems to have some positive stories about neighborhood happenings, etc.

[Clemenza]

When I was living in Chi-Town, there were alot of Pakistani MUSLIMS on Devon. Coincidence? ;-)

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Or the fact that the FAA office is in this same complex? Things that make one go "Hmmmmmmm....."

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

"SUV-Eating Lake" alert! :-)

[stylin19a]

no questions about it....the Sun-Times is more conservative than the Trib....I must be in Bizzaro world.

Re: The Daily Herald,
I had a running feud with Mabley
(which dates back to his Daily News days) til he retired, now I'm all over Burt Constable.

Can't give the libs room to breathe

[DoughtyOne]

All this talk about PETA and thier disdain for certain vehicles is creating a hostile environment that is beginning to cause worrysome signs in transportation circles.

It's probably too early to consider this an example of mass-transportation hysteria, but it's reached the level where no one can deny that it might be.

If you're vehicle is exhibing any of the warning signs, please don't ignore it.  Reach out before it's too late.  It's a good idea as a normal practice to wash it once a week.  Don't be afraid to vacuum it. Even the occasional wax job is a plus.

These photos reveal as only photos can, what a neglected vehicle might resort to.  Don't let this happen in your family.

   
     
   

Don't wait until something like this happens to take action.  By then it may be too late.  If the day comes when you're yelling "don't jump" at the to of your lungs,
you may never forgive yourself for what happens next.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Bwahahahaha! Good stuff!

[jocon307]

"It was a rainy day and a Monday that got one woman down."

LOL, good opening line. Who did that song? the carpenters?

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

That's funny :-). Karen Carpenter recorded "Rainy Days and Mondays" while lying down on pillows in the studio

[jocon307]

LOL! Thanks for checking. I really love the Carpenters, such a sad story about Karen.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

More from the website maintained by Richard Carpenter himself

[teenyelliott]

You know her SUV did something to deserve it. She's just not admitting it.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Those horrible SUV's get everything they deserve!

[teenyelliott]

I love the evil beasts. I have two.

They haven't run over any liberals yet. Must be defective.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

You have to love this headline, in any event. It sounds like a possible story line for a Sci-Fi movie! :-)

The Attack of the Killer Lake.
The Cockroach That Ate Cincinnati

.... or some such nonsense!

[teenyelliott]

Dang, I never thought of it like that.

What if that lake really is mean, and starts swallowing people next!!!!

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

The environmentalist whackos won't like it when the killer lake (i.e. man-made retention pond) has to be drained and put out of its misery!

[teenyelliott]

The sheeple must be protected.