Yahoo Lifestyle Wife Dies Despite Husband's Attempts to Rescue Her After Car Crashes into Illinois Pond
Susan Hilmes was pronounced dead on Sunday, Feb. 16, according to authorities
A woman has died after the car she was in crashed into an Illinois river despite her husband’s desperate attempts to save her.
The crash occurred near 15028 Rod and Gun Road just north of Breese around 12:16 a.m. local time on Sunday, Feb. 16, Clinton County Sheriff’s Office said in a Facebook post.
A caller claimed “a vehicle failed to make a curve in the road,” causing it to veer into a pond, authorities said. The vehicle wound up “upside down, with only the rear tires above water.”
Steven Hilmes, 65, was able to free himself from the car. But his wife Susan, 59, was still stuck inside.
Related: 86-Year-Old Professor’s Body Recovered After He Crashed His Car into Country Club Pond
Steven “made three dives into the dark, cold water in an attempt to save the driver” but to no avail, authorities said.
“It was only after his unsuccessful attempts that he ran to a nearby residence to seek help,” they added.
In a 911 call obtained by NBC affiliate KSDK, a woman tells a dispatcher that a man walked up to her home and said “his wife is at the bottom of a pond.”
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Susan, 59, was eventually extracted from the vehicle and transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead, the sheriff's office said.
“Her most cherished role was that of a devoted mother, dedicating her time and love to raising her children,” according to her obituary.
Susan was a 1984 graduate of St. Anthony High School in St. Louis, the tribute said. She attended community college and eventually began a family with her husband Steven.
Later on, Susan “worked for the PBS Network before transitioning as a producer for WTVC-TV Channel 9” in Chattanooga, Tenn. She was passionate about both sports and music too.
“She was a devoted coach and mentor to her children's sports teams, always actively involved in their group activities and cheering them on from the sidelines,” the obituary said. “Above all, Sue treasured the time spent with her family, especially her grandchildren, who were the light of her life.”
Related: Human Remains Found in Georgia Pond Possibly Linked to Couple’s 1980 Disappearance
A funeral for Susan is expected to take place on Saturday, Feb. 22, in St. Louis, according to her obituary.
The family said they believe there should be a barrier placed between the water and the roadway, as does Dennis Perez, Clinton County Sheriff’s Office acting chief deputy, KSDK reported.
“When you get into freezing cold water and overturn, it's, you know, you wear your seat belts to be safe, but they're hard to get out of when you're upside down in the water. The guard rail could have prevented that," said Perez.
Read the original article on People
