Barrington man dives in to help after car goes in Lake Michigan

Waukegan police are investigating why a vehicle drove through a cement planter and into Lake Michigan at the Waukegan Yacht Club.

Cmdr. Joe Florip said two men in their 30s were in the Toyota about 3 p.m. Tuesday when the car plunged into the lake after hitting the planter in the yacht club parking lot at 199 N. Harbor Place.

The car hit the water at such an angle that it did not sink right away, according to Dave Shaw, a 27-year-old assistant manager from Barrington.

Shaw said that he and some others watched the car float in the water, which is around 30 feet deep at that point, for two to three minutes. After the two men didn't take any action to get out of the car, he dove in the water with a flotation device to help.

"By the time I got in the water the front end of the car was basically underwater," Shaw said. "The back left window was rolled down, so I just calmly told him to get himself out of the car."

He said the passenger managed to flop out of the window, and then Shaw grabbed him by the back of the shirt and bring him to shore.

One of Shaw's co-workers tossed a flotation device at the other man, but the man swam to shore without it, Florip said.

Shaw said knew what to do because he could vividly recall his lifeguard training in high school.

"It's funny because my instructor at Barrington High School actually said that," Shaw said. "He had said when you do need these skills, this very moment will come back to you, and he was actually totally right."

Florip would not release the identities of the vehicle occupants because charges have not been filed.

Both men were in good condition when they were taken to Vista East Medical Center in Waukegan, Florip said.

"I'm just glad that no one got hurt," Shaw said.

Crews pulled the car from the water about 4:30 p.m. Shaw said he took the rest of the evening off work.