Two rescued after car plunges into pond near S. Barrington

Crews from the Barrington Countryside Fire Protection District rescued two people from a vehicle early Saturday after it plunged into an icy pond at the Crabtree Nature Preserve near South Barrington.

District officials said firefighters dispatched to the intersection of Algonquin and Palatine roads at 12:06 a.m. Saturday arrived to find a vehicle in a pond about 50 yards from shore. The vehicle's occupants, both 29-year-old men, were standing on its roof.

Reports indicated the vehicle entered the body of water known as Crabtree Lake near Palatine and Stover roads.

Water rescue crews and Barrington Countryside firefighters in specialized rescue suits launched a boat in 4 feet of water and walked it to the submerged vehicle, where both men entered the boat. The men were safely taken to shore and treated and released at the scene, officials said.

A total of 16 other fire departments responded to the scene, including firefighters from Algonquin, Buffalo Grove, Long Grove, Lake Zurich, Barrington, Streamwood, Rolling Meadows, Countryside, Round Lake, Fox Lake, Grayslake, Huntley and Libertyville.