1 dead after car plunges into pond

The body of a woman in her 30s was recovered from inside a car that drove into the north pond at Busse Woods Forest Preserve near Elk Grove Village Monday afternoon.

Divers also searched the water for other possible victims, but determined there was none, Elk Grove Village Deputy Fire Chief Scott Miller said.

Paramedics tried in vain to resuscitate the victim, who was ultimately pronounced dead at Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village, Miller said.

Two backpacks belonging to the still-unidentified woman were found near the scene, Miller added.

A fisherman at Busse Woods reported spotting a car -- it turned out to be a silver Mercedes sedan -- submerged in the water between 12:45 and 1 p.m., Cook County forest preserve spokesman Steve Mayberry said.

Both Cook County forest preserve police and Elk Grove Village Fire Department paramedics initially responded to the call.

The vehicle was pulled from the water, and police are now investigating how it got there. The victim's identity had not been released as of late Monday.

Forest preserve police and the Cook County sheriff's police are collaborating on the investigation.

Drownings are not unknown to Busse Woods. Among the incidents over the years was the drowning of a Chicago man who fell through the ice on a frozen lake there in December 2004.

• Staff Writer Amie Shak contributed to this report.