Man Pulled Out of Plainfield Creek After Car Crash

Bystander and emergency responders helped save him

Quick thinking observers saved a man from drowning Wednesday night after his car plunged into Lilly Creek near southwest suburban Plainfield .

Plainfield Deputy Fire Chief Jon Stratton says a bystander, a couple of police officer and firefighters helped pull the man out of the water.

“The problem we had was none of the doors would open," Stratton said a bystander told him. " He was on the driver’s side, so we went over to that side, reached in and grabbed hold of his hand. We pushed the car up, grabbed hold of the seatbelt, cut it and pulled the victim out.’’

Stratton says the man, described as in his early 20’s, didn’t have a pulse when he was first pulled out of the water.  He says doctors at Saint Joseph Medical Center were able to revive him.

The accident happened when the man, who was driving east on Renwick Road at around 7 p.m., lost control of his 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix, went across a lane of traffic, hit a guardrail, a tree and possible a concrete embankment before flipping into Lilly Creek, which is actually a river.

The car landed upside down then completely submerged in the creek which about 4 to 6 feet deep. The vehicle was a complete loss.

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