Driver, passenger safe after car plunges into frigid pond

Saturday, December 22, 2007

Two people and a dog swam to safety Friday night after their car plunged into a Putnam County pond.

The accident occurred on a 90-degree curve at 5928 N. CR 600 East, in Floyd Township, where Putnam County law enforcement officials say there have been at least five accidents this year.

Driver Trent Edward Goodman, 29, Martinsville, told Fillmore Town Marshall Tom Helmer that he was unfamiliar with the area and distracted by a cell phone call when he approached the sharp curve. Goodman reported that he locked his brakes and slid off the road, through a grassy area before his Pontiac Bonneville plunged into the pond at approximately 8:50 p.m. Emergency vehicles arrived at the scene at 9:02 p.m.

The driver, his dog and passenger Larissa Stokes, 18, Mooresville, escaped from the car and swam to safety through the frigid waters. However, the car sank to the bottom of the pond.

Both passenger and driver were shaken up, but unharmed, and refused medical treatment from Putnam County Operation Life, Helmer said.

"They were very lucky, especially knowing how cold it was," Helmer said. "That curve is notorious."

Officials from the Putnam County Sheriff's Department, Fillmore, Operation Life and Floyd Township Fire Department all assisted at the scene.

George Pearson, the owner of the property, provided both individuals with warm dry clothing.

A dive team will be dispatched to the crash site on Saturday to help wreckers retrieve the vehicle from the lake.

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  • That sounds SO scary, and in the dark, too! So glad they made it.

    -- Posted by Xgamer on Sat, Dec 22, 2007, at 1:14 AM
  • I hope these young people learned that there are more important things in life than cell a phone call when you are in a car .

    -- Posted by Lafayette on Sat, Dec 22, 2007, at 6:48 AM
  • It is a an offense where we live and you will receive a fairly large fine for driving while on the cell. Maybe Greencastle should think about that too.

    Those kids must have been scared. Glad they're ok.

    -- Posted by tschus on Sat, Dec 22, 2007, at 9:27 AM
  • Ignorance and inability to have self control get the best of someone again. Don't get me wrong, glad the couple and the little dog are okay. But, knowing that you are unfamiliar with the roadand have unfavorable weather conditions, you figure the adult driver would of been more concerned with operating the vehicle rather than a cell phone call that you could of returned the call when you were in a better position to do so. Accidents happen, Be safe people.

    -- Posted by Hungry&Fat on Mon, Dec 24, 2007, at 7:40 PM
  • Another example of cell phone use causing a wreck!

    -- Posted by mal on Wed, Dec 26, 2007, at 11:10 AM
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