76-Year-Old Woman Rescued From Car After Driving Into Icy Reservoir

MAHOPAC, NY — Police officers braved frigid waters to help save an elderly woman who found herself in a precarious position.

The Carmel Police Department says that on Tuesday, shortly after noon, Putnam County 911 contacted Carmel police about a car in the West Branch Reservoir off of Washington Road, with the driver unable to exit the vehicle.

Along with Carmel police officers, the Mahopac Volunteer Fire Department, the Mahopac Falls Volunteer Fire Department’s Dive Team, and EMS units were also dispatched to the scene.

Two Carmel police officers entered the water and removed the driver, a 76-year-old female resident of Mahopac, from the partially submerged vehicle on the banks of the reservoir.

The woman was uninjured but taken to an area hospital for a medical evaluation.

Carmel police said they were continuing the investigation into this accident and that the New York City Department of Environmental Protection also responded to the scene to determine if there were any potential hazards to the reservoir.