Westmont woman dies after car veered into pond

A Westmont woman died Wednesday from injuries sustained when the car in which she was riding veered into a retention pond and sunk Monday at Richmond and 63rd streets in Westmont.

A police officer and a firefighter pulled Perla Hurlburt, 70, and her husband, LeRoy Hurlburt Jr., 67, from the frigid pond.

Officer Jennifer Muska located and rescued LeRoy first and pulled him to shore. She tried to find Perla, too, but was weighed down by mud before two firefighters arrived to help.

Firefighter Brendan Sullivan located Perla in the dark, following the smell of gasoline from the sunken car. He said the woman was unconscious and facedown in the water.

Both victims were taken to Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove.

LeRoy Hurlburt was released from the hospital but officials would not confirm when.

Police still are investigating why the 1992 Toyota Tercel driven by LeRoy Hurlburt swerved into the pond just after 9:30 p.m. Monday.