An elderly couple was plucked from their vehicle after it plunged into an Elgin lake Thursday afternoon when its driver apparently hit the gas pedal instead of the brake.

Elgin police said the driver was attempting to park a black Chevrolet Malibu near the boat docks in the Willow Lake Estates off River Road when the accident happened about 1:10 p.m.

The car crossed the small parking area, broke through a fence and onto the wooden docks before entering the water, Sgt. Don Thiel said.

"It looks like they were trying to park and lost control or he put his foot on the gas and not the brake," Thiel said.

Elgin firefighters rescued the couple from the car, which witnesses said was chest-deep in water. Police said the couple's daughter and grandson also went into the water to help.

The pair, who are residents of the estates, were evaluated at the scene and released.

Lauren Guss, 25, of Elgin, was fishing with friends nearby and was among the first to the scene.

"I heard a squeal, a crash and then a splash," Guss said. "We got over there and I was shaking because they couldn't get out. They couldn't unlock the door or break the glass. But we could hear the fire trucks and knew they would be OK."