The pond on the north side of the Harper College campus where a car was found submerged. Larry Shapiro photo

The Palatine Fire Department was called shortly after noon this afternoon for a reported car in a pond on the Harper College campus. Companies arrived to find only the roof visible of a submerged car with the passenger door open. Divers entered the water and found a woman in the car. She was removed and transported to Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights where she was later pronounced dead. The Chicago Tribune has an article HERE and the Daily Herald has one HERE.

A backup diver is ready to enter the water if the primary diver requires assistance while searching the pond at Harper College for additional victims. Larry Shapiro photo

Fire department divers from Palatine, Hoffman Estates, and Schaumburg searched the area for over an hour in the event that there were additional occupants in the car when it entered the water. Elk Grove, Arlington Heights, and Mt. Prospect divers were also on-scene in the event that more personnel were needed. After assisting the police with measurements for their investigation, divers hooked the car so that it could be winched from the water.

A Schaumburg Fire Department diver prepares to perform a secondary search into the submerged car. Larry Shapiro photo

This is from the Harper College website:

News Alert: Shortly before noon on Thursday, March 24, 2011 a car was discovered submerged in a pond next to Parking Lot 12 on the Harper College campus in Palatine, IL. Divers recovered one female occupant of the car who was taken to Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights and pronounced dead.

The victim has not been identified. The investigation is being handled jointly by the Harper College Police Department, the Palatine Police Department and the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Officer.

One diver walks the shore as two are submerged checking the area for additional victims. Larry Shapiro phoyo

Larry Shapiro was at the scene and submitted several images plus a video of the winch out. A large gallery of images from the scene can be found HERE.

Palatine Engine 84 supplies water to the Division 1 Decon unit. Each diver that went into the murky water was processed through the decon showers. Larry Shapiro photo

The Saturn sedan after it was winched out of the pond by Redmons Towing. Larry Shapiro photo

Tags: Arlington Heights Fire Department, car in the water, dive rescue, Elk Grove Vilalge Fire Department, fatal car accident, fire department divers, Harper College accident, Hoffman Estates Fire Department, Larry Shapiro, MABAS 1 DECON unit, Mt. Prospect Fire Department, Palatine Engine 84, Palatine Fire Department, Redmon's Towing, Schaumburg Fire Department, submerged car