Man Dies After Rescue from Submerged Vehicle at Rend Lake

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A 911 call on Monday evening reported a vehicle submerged in Rend Lake near the boat ramp on Illinois Route 154. Emergency responders, including a dive team, rescued the man from the vehicle, but he later died after being airlifted to a hospital in Evansville, Indiana.

Why it matters

This tragic incident at a popular recreational lake highlights the importance of water safety and the dangers that can arise unexpectedly. Authorities will investigate the circumstances to determine what led to the vehicle ending up in the water.

The details

Around 5:40 p.m. on Monday, a fisherman called 911 to report a vehicle underwater at the Rend Lake Conservancy District boat ramp. Fire, police, and ambulance crews responded to the scene. A dive team from the Benton Fire Department, assisted by an Illinois State Police trooper, pulled the man from the submerged vehicle. Life-saving efforts were performed, and the man was transported to a local hospital before being airlifted to Deaconess Hospital in Evansville, Indiana, where he later died around 4:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

• On Monday around 5:40 p.m., a 911 call reported the submerged vehicle.
• Emergency responders arrived on the scene shortly after the 911 call.
• The man was rescued from the vehicle and transported to local and regional hospitals.
• The man passed away around 4:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

What’s next

The Franklin County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate the circumstances that led to the vehicle ending up in the water at the Rend Lake boat ramp.