Firefighters rescued multiple occupants after a minivan drove down a boat ramp into Bangs Lake at a restaurant and bar in Wauconda Saturday evening, police said.
The Wauconda Fire District and Wauconda Police Department responded around 11 p.m. Saturday to the Docks Bar and Grill, 313 East Liberty Street in Wauconda, for a report of a water rescue.
A 911 caller reported a car had entered the water and six people were in need of rescue on top of the vehicle.
Fire crews arrived on the scene and confirmed a car was partially submerged in the water with at least four to five people sitting on top of the car.
Wauconda Police Department Public Information Officer Heather Cognac said the minivan had entered Bangs Lake after driving down the boat ramp at Docks.
The vehicle came to rest approximately 20-30 feet out, Cognac said.
All occupants of the car, who were adults, were sitting on top of the vehicle when first responders arrived.
Firefighters assisted all of the occupants safely out of the water within approximately 15 minutes.
Cognac said none of the occupants were injured and the driver was not impaired.
All occupants spoke Russian and the inability to easily communicate caused delays. Police are unsure what led to the incident.
“The area is very dark at night, and if someone is unfamiliar with the location and not fully paying attention, it’s possible they could mistake the boat launch for a regular continuation of the parking lot. The ramp leads directly into the water,” Cognac said.
The vehicle was removed from the water and towed from the scene by Mike’s Towing.