Monroe County sheriff's deputy rescues man after SUV goes into pond

SUMMERFIELD TWP. — A Monroe County sheriff's deputy rescued a man from a pond after a small SUV crashed into it early Tuesday.

The man was taken to a hospital for treatment, and the dive teams from the Monroe County and Lenawee County sheriff's offices were able to remove the Jeep Wrangler from the pond, Monroe County Sheriff Troy Goodnough reported.

Monroe County Central Dispatch received a 911 call at 12:04 a.m. from a resident on Lulu Road near South County Line Highway, just east of Deerfield in Summerfield Township, Goodnough said in a news release. The caller reported hearing an unknown subject yelling for help and that they could not swim from the rear of their property near a pond.

Monroe County deputies responded to the scene, and Deputy Shawna Hester was the first to arrive. Upon arrival, Hester saw a man in the water about 20 feet off shore, struggling to stay afloat.

"Without hesitation Deputy Hester entered the water, and with the assistance of the homeowner providing a flotation device, was able to successfully rescue and safely bring the subject to shore where he was transported to ProMedica Monroe Regional Hospital for treatment," Goodnough said.

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While on scene investigating, deputies determined that a vehicle was possibly involved, Goodnough said.

"Deputies searched the scene and located fresh tracks coming from a field to the north, directly into the pond," Goodnough said. "The subject rescued from the water gave conflicting information as to whether or not anyone else was in the vehicle."

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team, with assistance from the Lenawee County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team, responded to the scene. The dive team was able to successfully recover an unoccupied black Jeep Wrangler from the pond.

The Summerfield Township Fire Department and Monroe Community Ambulance also assisted at the scene.

Hester continues to investigate the incident. Anyone with information is asked to call 734-240-7722.

— Contact reporter David Panian at dpanian@lenconnect.com or follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @lenaweepanian.