(Photo: Ocala Fire Rescue)
A swift response from Ocala Fire Rescue and local police officers led to the successful rescue of a driver whose vehicle plunged into a pond following a medical emergency late Thursday evening.
The incident occurred on October 3 at approximately 9:21 p.m. in the Fore Ranch subdivision. According to witnesses, a compact SUV accelerated through an entry gate, struck the access control unit, and veered off the road into a nearby retention pond.Ocala Fire Rescue’s Engine 6 and Rescue 6 were the first on the scene, finding Ocala Police Department officers already working to break the SUV’s windows as water surrounded the vehicle. Firefighters assisted officers in freeing the sole occupant from the submerged vehicle.
The driver, who had suffered a medical emergency that led to the crash, was promptly carried to a stretcher and transported to a hospital in trauma alert condition. No other individuals were involved or injured in the incident.Ocala Fire Rescue’s Battalion Chief 11, a Safety Officer, and Marion County Fire Rescue also responded to the scene, ensuring the rescue was handled swiftly and safely.
