October 6, 2003

Man drives car into pond

       An intoxicated driver went off the road and drove his car into a retention pond, submerging it beneath the water. Due to fears of a possible drowning, a scuba rescue team was summoned to the pond in front of the Eagle Trace subdivision in White River Township.  The accident happened about 4 a.m. Sunday. Sheriff’s Deputy Mike McGillem had spotted just the top of a vehicle visible above the water. The sheriff’s department scuba team and White River Township Fire Department were called to the possible drowning.  Deputy Mike Rogier went underwater to break out the windows of the submerged car and look for survivors, but the 1995 Nissan was empty.  About that time, the waterlogged driver, Brian A. Woods, 26, of Indianapolis, wandered up and admitted to deputies he had been behind the wheel. Police said Woods had a blood-alcohol level of 0.09 percent, which is just over the legal limit.  Despite having crashed into the water, he escaped the vehicle and was not reported as injured. He had no passengers.  Woods was arrested on a felony charge of driving while intoxicated. This was his second DWI in five years, the sheriff’s department reported.  Woods’ car was towed from the retention pond.  (reprinted with permission from the Daily Journal)

          
(Click on thumbnail to view larger photo)
Photos by Battalion Chief Joel Thacker

     

---