Newly-Appointed Commissioner Pulls Teen From Pond After Crash
Posted
Michael Anderson-manderson@timesuniononline.com
MENTONE – A Kosciusko County Commissioner pulled a boy out of a pond following an off-road vehicle (ORV) accident Friday night, according to a news release from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
Two juveniles were riding the ORV near a private pond on Commissioner Cary Groninger’s property at 6005 W. Schilling Road around 7 p.m. Friday.
The driver, an unidentified 15-year-old from Fort?Wayne, lost control of the vehicle near an embankment, causing the ORV to roll over and enter the pond. Both the driver and his 16-year-old passenger, also from Fort Wayne, were ejected into the pond.
The teenagers were at the house for Groninger’s son’s birthday party, according to Indiana Conservation Officer Matthew Maher.
Groninger called 911 after being notified by his son of the accident.
The 15-year-old was able to swim to safety with minor injuries, but the passenger remained submerged.
Groninger entered the pond and searched the immediate area where the vehicle had submerged and found the teen. He brought the 16-year-old ashore where medics performed “lifesaving aid” on the youth, the release states.
Neither victim was wearing a helmet, although safety harnesses appeared to have been used, according to the release.
Maher said the kids were driving the vehicle over a hill and didn’t realize how close they were to the pond.
Both were taken to Kosciusko Community Hospital. The driver was treated for minor injuries and released Friday night.
The passenger was later flown to Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne. The passenger remains in critical condition as of this morning and is still unresponsive, Maher said.
Groninger said the story isn’t about him.
He said this morning that he was the vessel God used to the pull the kid out of the water, and that it was a “miracle” he was able to find the teenager in the water.
“I just want to call out for prayers for this young man,” Groninger said.
Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department, Burket?Fire Department, Lutheran?EMS and Mentone EMS assisted at the scene.
