Full Notification

On Saturday, May 18, 2019, at 8:50pm the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety received reports of an SUV that had driven into the pond in the Las Casitas Mobile Home Park on Bridgit Drive in Rohnert Park.  It was reported that the occupants were still in the vehicle.  The pond is located in the center of the park, and it is approximately six feet deep.  Rohnert Park Public Safety Fire and Patrol Officers responded, and Patrol Officers Kieran Keaney and Mike Bacigalupi arrived within four minutes to find a 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee approximately 15 feet from the edge of the pond along Rio Vista Lane submerged up to the roof (see attached photo). 

The 59 year old woman who had been driving the Jeep, and who is a resident of the park, was out of the vehicle and was trying to get her 7 year old and 3 year old granddaughters out of the SUV and to the edge of the pond.  The officers quickly removed their Police equipment and jumped into the pond to assist with rescuing the woman and children.  They assisted the seven year old swim to the edge and out of the pond, while getting the 3 year old the rest of the way out of the open window and getting her and the grandmother to the edge.  The grandmother and grandchildren were evaluated by Paramedics and determined to be uninjured. 

The grandmother said she was driving on Rio Vista Lane when she mistook the opening to the pond as the next street, Las Casitas Drive, due to it being dark and raining.  She said she made a left turn and by the time she realized it was the pond it was too late.  The grandmother did not show any signs of being under the influence, but the DMV is being requested to re-evaluate her driving status.  The owners of the Jeep were informed they would need to work with their insurance to get the vehicle removed from the pond, and the park management was told they would need to have the pond checked for any hazardous substances from the Jeep.