57-year-old man went from parking lot into pond

A 57-year-old man who was pulled through the sunroof of his car Wednesday morning just as it was sinking into a pond at Algonquin Commons is listed in critical condition at an area hospital, authorities said.

Paul Mellor, 57, of Algonquin, drove the car into the pond, police said. He remains hospitalized at Advocate Sherman Hospital in Elgin.

Mellor's rescue occurred at 11:04 a.m., between two and three minutes after police and the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District arrived on the scene, Deputy Police Chief Steve Kuzynowski said.

"The fire district did a good job getting him out," Kuzynowski said, adding that a bystander saw the accident and immediately called 911. Fire Chief Patrick Mullen said Mellor's Honda Accord went from the parking lot into a retention pond in the 1500 block of South Randall Road, near Half Price Books.

Officials said first responders smashed the sunroof of the vehicle to gain access, cut Mellor's seat belt and pulled him through the roof as the car was sinking.

Mellor, who was alone in the car, was unconscious with no pulse at the time of his rescue, officials said.

Kuzynowski said the car didn't hit anyone else or any other property. Tire tracks show the car went from the parking lot's curb, to the grass and finally into the pond, he said.

The circumstances surrounding the crash were not immediately available.

"The answers all lie with the individual who was driving the car," Kuzynowski said, adding that police continue to investigate the crash. "Hopefully we'll have an opportunity to speak to the individual to determine what happened exactly."

The fire district received assistance from fire personnel from Carpentersville, Crystal Lake, Huntley, Fox River Grove, Woodstock, Wauconda, Lake Zurich, Nunda Township, Cary, McHenry, Lakewood, and Wonder Lake.