The driver of an SUV that drove into the water near Lake Shore Drive has died, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner.
Randy Brittman, 51, drove his vehicle into the water at around 3 p.m. near Lake Shore Drive and Balbo Avenue, according to Chicago Police News Affairs Officer Veejay Zala. Brittman was pronounced dead at 8:23 p.m.
Witnesses near the scene said a vehicle was traveling in reverse when it went across six lanes of traffic, through a fence and into the water.
"I saw a car traveling in reverse in front of me, slammed on the brakes, saw him continue through the fence right about here, right into the water about 20 feet out," said witness Kevin Shanken. "The door was wide open and he’s kind of out of the car, seemed like he was completely out of control."
Ron Dorneker, the Deputy District Chief of the Chicago Fire Department's Marine & Dive Operations, said rescuers pulled a victim from the water.
"Divers had limited visibility," he said, noting that debris made the search difficult.
The victim was transported to Northwestern Memorial Hospital where their condition was not immediately known. Dorneker said the victim was underwater for roughly 20 minutes and was unresponsive at the scene, but could survive.
U.S. & World
Earlier Friday, a Chicago Park District truck slid into Lake Michigan near Oak Street. Dorneker said the driver was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital as a precaution.
