Vehicle plunges into Lake Michigan near Balbo Drive, driver rescued

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A man is listed in critical condition at Northwestern Memorial Hospital after his vehicle reportedly crossed six lanes of traffic on Lake Shore Drive and ended up in Lake Michigan near Balbo Drive.

Chicago Fire Department officials said the vehicle went into the lake around 3 p.m. Friday. Witnesses said divers responded within minutes of the accident, and had the victim out of the car and out of the water within 20 minutes.

Witnesses said it was unclear what led the vehicle to cross from the southbound lanes of Lake Shore Drive over the sidewalk and stairs, before plunging into the lake. The driver was apparently unable to stop.

"It looked like he was, maybe had his foot caught or something, underneath the brake or the pedal, and unfortunately, it happened so fast, but just really, really fast across the median and into the lake," said Brendan Taylor, a witness.

The vehicle struck Taylor's car before going into the water. Witnesses said pedestrians along the lakefront scattered when the vehicle came hurtling toward them.

Chicago Fire Department divers had to battle the elements during the rescue.

"It was really cold water. Divers had very low visibility, visibility was under six inches. There was a lot of debris in the vehicle, too, which made the search difficult," said Dep. Chief Ron Dorneker, Chicago Fire Dept.

The vehicle was pulled from Lake Michigan on Friday evening.