Authorities in Wayne County responded to a harrowing scene early Friday morning when a vehicle veered off Gansz Road in the Town of Galen and plunged into a partially frozen pond.
Sheriff’s deputies arrived at approximately 7:42 a.m. after receiving a report of a motor vehicle accident. Upon arrival, they found the car sinking into the icy water. The driver, identified as John Valder, 66, of Junius, was trapped inside the vehicle as water began to fill the interior.
Deputies acted quickly, using a safety throw rope to assist Valder in escaping the sinking vehicle. Emergency responders from the Clyde Fire Department, New York State Police, and Wayne County EMS helped remove Valder from the water and bring him safely to shore.
Valder told deputies that he lost control of his vehicle while traveling northbound on Gansz Road, causing it to leave the roadway and enter the pond. He was evaluated at the scene by Wayne County EMS and transported to Newark Wayne Community Hospital as a precaution.
The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office commended the efforts of all agencies involved in the rescue, emphasizing the collaborative work that ensured Valder’s safety.
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