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SHAWNEE, KAN -
A 22-year-old man is dead after driving his car into a pond at the Prairie Lakes Apartment Complex Friday afternoon in Shawnee. And, despite police being there within seconds, he couldn't be saved.
Tire tracks can still be seen in the 6700 Block of Lackman Road. Around 2:30 p.m. Friday, September 11, witnesses heard tires squealing and then saw the car go over the curb and into the pond.
The driver, Joseph Umbenhower of Bonner Springs, was pulled from the water retention pond after being under for 20-30 minutes. Initial officers were on the scene within 30 seconds and they saw the driver as the car sank. Those officers tried to rescue him, but couldn't reach him. By the time dive teams were able to get to him, it was too late.
A witness told police the driver appeared to have a seizure before the car plunged into the pond.
"He wasn't struggling to get out. He wasn't moving at all. So, my first thought was he had a seizure and that's why he went into the pond in the first place," said witness Sindy Tormina.
An autopsy will be done to determine the cause of death.
Tire tracks can still be seen in the 6700 Block of Lackman Road. Around 2:30 p.m. Friday, September 11, witnesses heard tires squealing and then saw the car go over the curb and into the pond.
The driver, Joseph Umbenhower of Bonner Springs, was pulled from the water retention pond after being under for 20-30 minutes. Initial officers were on the scene within 30 seconds and they saw the driver as the car sank. Those officers tried to rescue him, but couldn't reach him. By the time dive teams were able to get to him, it was too late.
A witness told police the driver appeared to have a seizure before the car plunged into the pond.
"He wasn't struggling to get out. He wasn't moving at all. So, my first thought was he had a seizure and that's why he went into the pond in the first place," said witness Sindy Tormina.
An autopsy will be done to determine the cause of death.
