The Chicago Tribune recently published a follow-up report on an ongoing investigation into the tragic incident where an elderly man drowned after driving his car into a local pond. The case has raised serious questions about emergency response procedures and the role of 911 dispatchers in life-threatening situations.
According to the article, the emergency dispatcher who received the 911 call from Henry Laseke, an 89-year-old man from Arlington Heights, did not provide him with critical instructions to exit his sinking vehicle. Instead, the dispatcher repeatedly asked for his address, despite the man’s urgent pleas for help. Laseke was eventually rescued by fire department divers, but he was pronounced dead shortly afterward. Experts suggest that if he had been able to escape the car before it fully submerged, he might have survived.
Northwest Central Dispatch System, which handled the six 911 calls related to the incident, has launched an internal review to ensure that all protocols were followed. The agency confirmed that it uses guidelines developed by Priority Dispatch Corp., a company that provides emergency response training. According to Michael Thompson, a consultant with Priority Dispatch, the standard protocol for a sinking vehicle is to tell the caller to unfasten their seatbelt, open the door or window, and get out immediately.
However, during Laseke’s call, the dispatcher never gave such instructions. A recording of the conversation shows the man pleading, “Hurry up, I’m sinking. The water is coming up…†at the two-minute mark. Despite this, no guidance was provided on how to escape the car.
Cindy Barbera-Brelle, executive director of Northwest Central, acknowledged that the agency follows Priority Dispatch’s protocols but declined to comment on the specifics of the case. She emphasized that the protocols are meant to guide dispatchers through various emergencies, including those involving vehicles in water.
The incident occurred around 7 a.m. on Thursday when Laseke lost control of his 2013 Cadillac SUV and ended up in an 8-foot-deep retention pond near his home. Neighbors reported seeing him talking on his phone inside the vehicle as it floated in the water.
Experts like Michael Thompson stress that while most dispatchers prioritize getting an address, a sinking car requires immediate action. “Any agency that isn’t prepared for that is doing their customer a disservice,†he said. Ken Willette of the National Fire Protection Association noted that vehicle submersion is considered a “technical rescue†and is typically outside the scope of general emergency dispatch guidelines.
Fire Chief Glenn Ericksen stated that while he couldn’t confirm whether dispatchers are legally required to give safety instructions, he emphasized that the two most important steps in such a situation are to undo the seatbelt and open a window.
The National Safety Council reports that hundreds of people die each year due to vehicle submersion. John Ulczycki, a vice president with the council, said that in such cases, the priority should always be escape — vehicles can sink faster than emergency responders can arrive.
This tragic event has sparked renewed debate over emergency response training and the need for clearer, more standardized protocols in handling vehicle-related water incidents. Both the Arlington Heights police and fire departments are currently reviewing the case.
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