Good Samaritan Comes To Rescue Of Man Inside Car That Plunged Into Lake Michigan
(CBS) -- Police in Waukegan are crediting a Good Samaritan with rescuing a man from a car that had just plunged into the lake at the Waukegan Yacht Club.
It was just after 3 this afternoon when Waukegan authorities got a call about a car into the water at the yacht club.
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Waulegan Police Commander Joe Florip says when police and fire got to the scene - one man who had been in the car had already swum to shore.
"And then a second subject was being assisted from the harbor by a good Samaritan. A Good Samaritan had gone into the harbor with a life preserver and had assisted the second person out."
The Good Samaritan was Dave Shaw, assistant manager at the Waukegan Yacht Club.
"He had a hard time getting out of the car but then the gentlemen with the white shirt, one of the people here in the yacht club, assisted him out," said witness Michael Wehlus.
Dave Shaw has a background as a lifeguard.
When pulled from the water, car showed plenty of damage. Fire officials said it sped through the parking lot, and plowed over parking blocks and a planter, before plunging into the harbor.
"The police department said the occupants were kind of out of it, so they're doing an investigation on that," said Waukegan Battalion Chief Gene Decker.
VIDEO: Brave Waukegan Yacht Club employee saves passenger from car that crashed into Lake Michigan @cbschicago See -> pic.twitter.com/qdC0ulAdV5
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Florip says the two men who were in the car - both in their 30s - were taken to a hospital but are apparently OK.
The Good Samaritan is also OK.
Police are investigating.
Commander Florip says when he got to the harbor - which was soon after the car went in - the car trunk was just visible - and then the whole thing just sank.
