According to the Michigan City Fire Department, on Saturday October 4th around 5:33 PM Central Time, their crews were dispatched to 100 Franklin Street for a report of a vehicle that had driven into the water.
MCFD reports that Engine 1 arrived on scene and made contact with a witness on a personal watercraft who directed responders that the vehicle was located next to the DNR station in Trail Creek.
Two of their certified divers, along with a diver from Michigan City Police Department, entered the water and located the vehicle. They broke windows to gain access to the interior. Firefighter Randall Hallett rescued one passenger from the front of the vehicle. Operator Chris Blake located a second occupant and brought them to the surface, where Operator Brian Gonzalez assisted in transferring the patient via a rescue line.
Immediate life-saving measures were initiated on both individuals, who were transported to Franciscan Health Michigan City. We have since learned they were later transferred to a Chicago-area hospital for advanced care. DNR divers continued searching the area to ensure no other victims were present.
Firefighter Hallet and Operator Blake sustained minor injuries from broken glass during the rescue but are recovering.
