AP News, July 4th, 2007
A van rolled into a pond Wednesday after the driver got out to ask directions to a Fourth of July barbecue, killing a woman and two children and leaving a third child in critical condition, authorities said.
The victims were in 15 to 20 feet of water for 20 to 25 minutes, Fire Battalion Chief Ismael Pomales said. Their names were not immediately released.
"It's horrible," Pomales said. "We've had children die before. That's probably one of the toughest things for any rescue person to deal with."
The van's driver had apparently stopped near a concession stand at Beardsley Park and left the vehicle to ask for directions, Pomales said. The driver was still outside the van when it started to roll down a hill to a pond 60 or 70 yards away.
Bridgeport Hospital spokesman John Cappiello confirmed that two of the children died. A third was being transferred to Yale-New Haven Hospital. The children appeared to be under 5, Pomales said. The adult in the van was taken to St. Vincent's Medical Center, where she also died, Pomales said.
People nearby tried unsuccessfully to stop the van, Pomales said. Fire personnel could not reach the people inside the vehicle. The Bridgeport Police Department's scuba team arrived a few minutes later and removed the victims from the van.
The driver, who was in apparent shock, was being questioned by police. She had another child with her who was not in the van when it went underwater, Pomales said.
Beardsley Park was closed while emergency crews worked but later reopened.
