By Bob Bong
A 71-year-old man died after he suffered an apparent health episode and crashed his pickup truck into the Bridgeview Park District pool, which was empty at the time.
Police said the man was driving a 2011 Chevy four-door pickup near 81st Street and Beloit Avenue about 6 a.m. on February 8 when he lost control of his vehicle and crashed into the park district pool near the Bridgeview Park District building.
Police said the victim was pinned behind the steering wheel and had to be extricated by firefighters.
Police said the truck was completely in the pool and the front end had been smashed back into the cab. Pieces of the Chevy were scattered all over the pool deck, including the topper that had been fastened to the pickup bed.
After he was extricated from the vehicle, he was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was pronounced dead.
The Suburban Major Accident Reconstruction Team assisted Bridgeview police in the investigation.
Police said the victim’s wife said her husband had been at a sleep study at an area hospital and was driving home.
She was concerned about her husband driving home alone, so she asked that he stay on the phone with her while he was driving.
She said the victim said he was almost home when he suddenly stopped talking.
While searching with a friend for her husband, she saw the lights from the police cars and knew that accident involved her husband.
She went to the scene and confirmed the pickup truck involved in the accident belonged to her husband.