COLUMBUS, Ohio — A man and an 11-year-old have died and two other children were hospitalized after a car holding five people entered a Columbus pond Saturday afternoon.
According to Columbus police, a 39-year-old woman was attempting to park a Toyota Highlander when she lost control and drove into the pond on Shore Boulevard, just north of Kingsland Avenue at the Hartford on The Lake apartment complex.
Deputy Chief Shawn Koser said bystanders heard calls for help just after 12:15 p.m. and called 911.
Columbus police say a passenger and 55-year-old Dereje Kume were trapped inside the vehicle for a period of time before being rescued.
Kume was transported to Mount Carmel East in critical condition. He was pronounced dead just after 8 a.m. Sunday, according to police.
Koser said the woman was able to escape the car quickly and bystanders were able to bring the children to shore and revive them through CPR.
Eleven-year-old Leta Galagalo was taken to Nationwide Children's Hospital in critical condition. Authorities said he passed away Monday afternoon.
A 9-year-old male and 7-year-old male were also taken to Nationwide Children's Hospital and were listed in stable condition.
Antonio Mister, a bystander, said he and a friend jumped into the water and rescued two children who were seen along the surface of the water.
"Me and my friend pretty much stripped down and got in there and helped to pull them out," Mister said.
