Vehicle in pond northeast of Columbia

Emergency personnel responded about 8:30 p.m. Saturday to the report of a vehicle in a pond off Bluffside Road just south of Triple Lakes Road northeast of Columbia in rural St. Clair County.

The vehicle, a small white SUV, was running and a door was partially open but it was unoccupied in the water and there didn’t appear to be anyone around, per a fire official on scene.

Soon after, a man on scene told responders that the vehicle was his wife’s and that she had exited the vehicle safely and was at home.

According to a St. Clair County Sheriff’s report, Barbara C. Ratz, 58, of East Carondelet, was traveling in dense fog at the time and swerved to miss a deer. The vehicle went off the roadway and into a small pond, landing in approximately three feet of water.

Responding agencies included the Columbia Fire Department, Columbia EMS and the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Republic-Times

The Republic-Times has been Monroe County's hometown newspaper since 1890. Serving Columbia, Waterloo, Valmeyer, Hecker and every town in between, we strive to provide the news that matters most to you in the timeliest manner possible. For more information on subscribing to the Republic-Times, call 939-3814 or visit the "Subscribe" page on this website.
HTC web
MonroeCountyElectric300X15012_19