Driver escapes injury after driving into pond

A lone motorist whose SUV wasn’t found for nearly six hours escaped injury early Thursday after driving into a pond on the Perricone Garden Center & Nursery property in Volo.

What became an unusual call for authorities began about 2:18 a.m. at the Thornton’s gas station at Darrell Road and Route 120 where police were called for a well-being check.

A 30-year-old Lake Villa man who walked into the station with wet clothing told police his vehicle was in a pond but was unsure of his location or where the crash occurred.

Thornton’s is nearly a mile away from the crash site near Route 120 and North Fisher Road. Police assume the man was dropped off by a motorist who saw him on the side of the road but never made contact with that person, according to Lakemoor Deputy Chief Robert Johnson.

“A good Samaritan but we don’t know who he was,” Johnson said.

The driver said he was alone in the SUV at the time of the crash. He was examined by fire/rescue personnel but declined treatment. Authorities searched an expansive area but couldn’t locate the vehicle, Johnson said.

According to Lakemoor police, an investigation showed the vehicle was traveling south on Sullivan Lake Road approaching Route 120.

The SUV crossed Route 120 and drove into an open field on the nursery center property.

Johnson said the driver, who was not identified, was on an interior service road trying to get back to Route 120 when he drove into the pond.

“There’s snow on the ground, it’s nighttime and he probably didn’t see the pond,” Johnson said.

It also was difficult to spot because the vehicle was white and the pond is not immediately adjacent to Route 120, Johnson added.

A passing motorist noticed the car Thursday morning and authorities were dispatched for a vehicle in a pond about 8:05 a.m. No one was in the vehicle and it was towed by D & L Midwest Towing with assistance from Perricone employees, police said.

The Lake Villa man, who was not identified, was ticketed for improper lane usage.