Algonquin man who drove car into pond unable to talk to police

Paul Mellor, the 57-year-old man who was dramatically rescued from the Algonquin pond he drove into Wednesday, remained in critical condition Thursday at Advocate Sherman Hospital in Elgin, a spokeswoman said.

Police continue to investigate, but because the Algonquin man is unable to talk to them, they still don't know what led to the accident, Deputy Police Chief Steve Kuzynowski said.

"We're trying to communicate with the wife ... so as soon as he's able to speak to us, (but) I don't know when that's going to happen," Kuzynowski said. "Right now, the most important thing is that he's being taken care of."

Police say Mellor drove his Honda Accord into a retention pond at Algonquin Commons Wednesday morning. Tire tracks show the car went from the parking lot's curb, to the grass and finally into the pond, Kuzynowski said.

Officials said first responders rescued Mellor by smashing the car's sunroof, cutting his seat belt and pulling him out through the roof as the car was sinking.

Mellor, who was alone, was unconscious with no pulse at the time of his rescue, officials said. The rescue took between two and three minutes once police and the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District arrived on the scene, officials said.

Kuzynowski knows of only one witness to the accident and said Mellor is the only one who can explain how it happened.

"He's the only one that has the story of what occurred out there," Kuzynowski said.