CLINTON COUNTY, Illi. (DDN) – A woman has lost her life after the vehicle she was in went off the road and into an Illinois river, despite her husband’s urgent efforts to rescue her.
The crash took place near 15028 Rod and Gun Road, just north of Breese, at approximately 12:16 a.m. local time on Sunday, Feb. 16, according to a Facebook post from the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office.
A caller reported that a vehicle did not navigate a curve in the road, leading it to slide into a pond, according to authorities. The vehicle ended up flipped over, with just the back tires sticking out of the water.
Steven Hilmes, 65, managed to escape from the vehicle. However, his wife Susan, who is 59, remained inside.
Steven “made three dives into the dark, cold water in an attempt to save the driver.” Unfortunately, he was unsuccessful, according to authorities.
“It was only after his unsuccessful attempts that he ran to a nearby residence to seek help,” they added.
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A woman reported to a dispatcher in a 911 call, which was acquired by NBC affiliate KSDK, that a man approached her residence and claimed, “his wife is at the bottom of a pond.”
Susan, 59, was removed from the vehicle and taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital, where she was later declared dead, according to the sheriff’s office.
“Her most cherished role was that of a devoted mother, dedicating her time and love to raising her children,” her obituary states.
Susan graduated from St. Anthony High School in St. Louis in 1984, according to the tribute. She went to community college and later started a family with her husband Steven.
Susan later worked for the PBS Network before moving on to become a producer for WTVC-TV Channel 9 in Chattanooga, Tenn. She had a strong enthusiasm for both sports and music as well.
“She was a devoted coach and mentor to her children’s sports teams, always actively involved in their group activities and cheering them on from the sidelines,” the obituary said. “Above all, Sue treasured the time spent with her family, especially her grandchildren, who were the light of her life.”
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Susan’s funeral is set for Saturday, Feb. 22, in St. Louis, as noted in her obituary.
The family expressed their belief that a barrier should be installed between the water and the roadway, a sentiment echoed by Dennis Perez, acting chief deputy of the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office, according to KSDK.
“When you get into freezing cold water and overturn, it’s, you know, you wear your seat belts to be safe, but they’re hard to get out of when you’re upside down in the water. The guard rail could have prevented that,” said Perez.
Reference: Wife Dies Despite Husband’s Attempts to Save Her After Car Crashes into Pond
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