A routine Thursday evening at Memorial Park turned into a chaotic scene of bravery and urgency. First responders plunged into the freezing waters of Prospect Lake to save a driver trapped inside a sinking vehicle. The dramatic rescue unfolded within minutes, leaving one person fighting for their life and four rescuers injured.
A Race Against Time
Emergency crews rushed to Memorial Park just after 5 p.m. on Thursday following frantic reports of a car in the water.
Witnesses watched in shock as a vehicle traveling westbound on Airport Road suddenly veered off course. The car drove directly into the frigid lake and began to sink rapidly.
“They ran in with nothing but their uniforms on,” a Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) spokesperson stated.
First responders arrived on the scene within minutes of the initial call. Time was the enemy as the vehicle took on water approximately 30 feet from the shore.
Uniforms Only: The Heroic Plunge
There was no time to put on protective cold-water gear.
Two Colorado Springs police officers and four firefighters immediately sprinted into the lake. They battled water temperatures hovering around 37 degrees to reach the submerged sedan.
The team worked frantically to break the car windows.
They managed to pull the unconscious driver from the vehicle and drag them to dry land in under two minutes. This lightning-fast response likely prevented an immediate tragedy.
However, the rescue came at a cost to the brave men and women involved.
Responder Injuries:
- 2 Firefighters: Hospitalized for cuts and hypothermia.
- 2 Police Officers: Hospitalized for cuts and hypothermia.
- Status: All responders are expected to recover.
Critical Condition and Investigation
The driver was rushed to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Medical staff listed the patient in critical condition as of Friday morning. Authorities have not yet released the identity of the driver.
Questions currently surround the moments leading up to the crash.
A local business owner near the lake reported seeing the vehicle parked in his lot for 40 minutes before the incident. He claimed the car then drove straight into the water without deviating.
Police have not officially confirmed this timeline.
The Colorado Springs Police Department is actively investigating the exact cause of the crash to determine if it was intentional or accidental.
Aftermath at Memorial Park
A dive team and underwater drones remained at the lake for hours after the rescue.
Crews scoured the water to ensure no other passengers were trapped inside the vehicle. Confirmed reports later stated the driver was the sole occupant.
Heavy wreckers eventually pulled the waterlogged sedan from the lake later that night.
Residents who frequent the popular park expressed shock at the heavy police presence. Many took to social media to praise the quick thinking of the officers and firefighters who risked their own safety.
This incident serves as a grim reminder of the dangers posed by freezing bodies of water during winter months.
Summary: A driver is in critical condition after their vehicle plunged into Prospect Lake on Thursday evening. Colorado Springs police and firefighters performed a heroic rescue by jumping into near-freezing water without gear. Four responders suffered hypothermia and cuts during the successful extraction. Police are currently investigating the cause of the crash.
We want to hear from you. Were you at Memorial Park when this happened? Share your thoughts and support for the first responders in the comments below. If you are on X (formerly Twitter), use #ProspectLakeRescue to join the conversation.
