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Sunroof escape saves man
(by Mike Klimko - December 30, 2008)
Sunroof escape saves man
By Mike Klimko
A Seven Hills motorist escaped injury Dec. 23 after the vehicle he was driving veered off Miles Road and into the ice-covered pond at Cheswick Drive, according to the Solon police and fire departments.
Thomas Marrero Jr., 30, was driving eastbound on Miles Road when he lost control of his vehicle at about 8:05 p.m. Assistant Police Chief Raymond Tittl said.
The road conditions were icy at the time of the crash, Mr. Tittl said. The driver was not cited by police, he said. Mr. Marrero told police he was driving at about 35 miles per hour at time of the crash.
Mr. Marrero climbed out through the sunroof of the vehicle, according to police reports. There have not been many incidents involving vehicles driven into ponds over the years, according to police and fire reports.
Mr. Marrero was in a police cruiser when firefighters and paramedics arrived on the scene, Fire Chief William J. Shaw said. Mr. Marrero refused care by fire-department personnel, he said.
The vehicle, which could not be recovered Dec. 23 due to darkness, broke through the ice and became submerged, Mr. Shaw said.
Safety officials and a towing company recovered the vehicle Dec. 24 with the aid of a diver from the Hillcrest Technical Rescue Team, Mr. Shaw said.
The rescue-team diver hooked a cable onto the vehicle in order to pull the vehicle from the pond, Mr. Shaw said. The fire department has a shared-services agreement with the rescue team at no charge, he said.
Hillcrest and Solon provide services to each other under the terms of the agreement, he said. Hillcrest provides water and trench rescue services, while Solon provides hazardous-waste response as needed, he said.
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