95-Year-Old Dies After Driving Into Aurora Retention Pond
(CREDIT: Aurora Fire Department Facebook page)
A 95-year-old Downers Grove woman who lost control of her vehicle and drove into a Far East Side retention pond Friday afternoon, May 4, has succumbed to her injuries.
(CREDIT: Aurora Fire Department Facebook page)
Helen A. Duncan of the 4900 block of Douglas Road was pronounced deceased at around 1:30 a.m. Saturday, May 5, at Presence Mercy Medical Center in Aurora.
The investigation presently indicates that around 1:35 p.m., Duncan was driving her 1997 Ford Crown Victoria south on DuPage Parkway at a high rate of speed when she made a hard-right turn to go west on Bilter Road. She then lost control of the vehicle, left the roadway, and drove into the retention pond.
Several people who live or were in the area, including an off-duty DuPage County Forrest Preserve police officer and an off-duty Cicero auxiliary police officer, immediately dove into the water attempting to save Duncan, prior to arrival of police and firefighters.
Two Aurora police officers and an Aurora Fire Department lieutenant were the next to arrive and immediately joined the rescue efforts and pulled the woman from the vehicle. She was rushed to Presence Mercy by Paramedics but was not able to be transported to another hospital, which was originally planned, due to her unstable medical condition.
Aurora Fire Department divers completed a sweep of the pond to make sure there were no other persons in Duncan’s vehicle.
The investigation is being handled by the Aurora Police Traffic Division.
An autopsy is pending at the Kane County Coroner’s Office.
SOURCE: Aurora Police Department Facebook page
