Update: Car crashes into Villages lake (video)

Staff Report

A 59-year-old man was taken to the hospital after the car he was driving ended up in the lake in the Villages at Rancho El Dorado.

According to Maricopa Police Department, the vehicle traveled south down Santa Cruz, an entry point to the housing development, crossed Butterfield Parkway and launched into the water.

The incident occurred around 4 p.m.

“A guy failed to stop because he passed out behind the wheel,” said Charles Worden, a witness who also assisted at the scene.” When he passed out he accelerated into the lake. When he hit, the car completely smashed into the bottom and then completely went over and hit the wall. When we went over, he was not really compliant. He was pretty dizzy.”

There were three passengers in the vehicle, as well – a woman estimated to be in her late 30s and two children, ages 8 and 9.

No injuries were reported.

“The witnesses are saying the vehicle was traveling through the entry way into Butterfield Parkway. Then the vehicle accelerated at a high rate of speed, took out the stop sign, hit the slope off the roadway and ended up in the water,” MPD spokesman Ricardo Alvarado said.

The driver was taken to Chandler Regional Medical Center as a precaution.

“From our understanding, the grandfather driving the car had some type of medical condition and apparently blacked out,” Alvarado said. “Then the vehicle lost control and ended up in the water. There were several citizens that jumped in the water to help get the people out of the vehicle. The only person that was taken to the hospital was taken out of precaution. It was the driver and he said he blacked out so we want to make sure there isn’t any type of impairment involved.”

Worden was among those who jumped into the water to help the people out of the car.