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Day Of Sorrow'
A Woman, Her Son And A Young Girl Die; Nephew, 6, Remains In Critical Condition
By GARY LIBOW | Courant Staff Writer
July 5, 2007
BRIDGEPORT - A woman, her son and another child drowned Wednesday morning and a third child was in critical condition after their minivan rolled into Bunnell's Pond at Beardsley Park, officials said.
The woman, who had gotten out of the vehicle to ask for directions, chased the minivan - with the three young children inside - down a steep hill, climbing inside as it rolled toward the water, police said.
The dead are Michelle McIntosh, 39; her son, David Jr., 3; and a young girl who was a family friend, according to McIntosh's sister-in-law, Denise McIntosh of Massachusetts.
A 6-year-old child, who Denise McIntosh said was a nephew, was in critical condition Wednesday evening at Yale-New Haven Hospital.
The names were confirmed by the chief medical examiner's office. McIntosh lived less than a mile from the pond.
Mayor John M. Fabrizi said it was "a day of sorrow for all Bridgeporters." He pledged that the city would assist the grieving family "in any way that we can."
Around 10:45 a.m., McIntosh parked her maroon Plymouth minivan near a concession stand and got out to ask for directions to a barbecue, Fire Battalion Chief Ismael Pomales said. The van began to roll down the hill and toward the pond, about 65 yards away, he said.
McIntosh chased the minivan and managed to get inside as it went into the water, Bridgeport Police Chief Bryan Norwood said.
The van sank quickly in 15 to 20 feet of water, he said. The back hatch of the van had been opened slightly before it hit the water, Pomales said, which only made the van sink faster.
Firefighters arrived first and got into the water, but could not get deep enough because they were wearing coldwater suits that made them buoyant, he said. One firefighter managed to touch the top of the van but could not get deep enough to do more, Pomales said.
The Bridgeport Police Department's scuba team arrived about five minutes later, Pomales said, and brought three children and an adult out of the water.
The four were in the water between 20 and 25 minutes, Pomales said. Emergency responders tried to resuscitate them, then took them to area hospitals.
McIntosh died at St. Vincent's Medical Center. David McIntosh and a second child died at Bridgeport Hospital.
"It's a very sad day," Pomales said. "It's not easy to see children die."
Janet Mendez of New Haven, who was at the park for a picnic, said she heard a woman cry out for her baby. When she looked toward the water, she saw a woman running behind the minivan, Mendez said.
Men who were nearby playing volleyball went in to try to rescue the van's occupants. One man jumped in five times, Mendez said.
Later, the minivan was pulled out of the water and taken to the police department to be inspected, Bridgeport police said.
Ed Rivera, 29, the driver of the tow truck that pulled the van from the water, said a baby seat remained in the back of the van, along with towels and juice boxes. A child's shoe was found at the edge of the pond after the van was removed.
Family members gathered at the McIntoshes' home at 85 Palm St. Wednesday evening. Denise McIntosh said her sister-in-law had three other children, all daughters.
"She was devoted to her kids, devoted to her church," Denise McIntosh said. "It was an awful accident. The children are her life."
Michelle McIntosh was 14 when she met her husband, David, in Jamaica, where they lived, Denise McIntosh said. They were married in 1988 and lived in White Plains, N.Y., before moving to Connecticut.
Michelle worked in the financial assistance office of Monroe College in New Rochelle, N.Y., where she previously earned her bachelor's degree, Denise McIntosh said.
Stunned people huddled in the rain at Beardsley Park Wednesday evening.
"It's beyond belief," said Nikiesha Diaz, who said her children play with the McIntosh children.
Courant Staff Writers Arielle Levin Becker and Stephanie Heisler contributed to this report.
A Woman, Her Son And A Young Girl Die; Nephew, 6, Remains In Critical Condition
By GARY LIBOW | Courant Staff Writer
July 5, 2007
BRIDGEPORT - A woman, her son and another child drowned Wednesday morning and a third child was in critical condition after their minivan rolled into Bunnell's Pond at Beardsley Park, officials said.
The woman, who had gotten out of the vehicle to ask for directions, chased the minivan - with the three young children inside - down a steep hill, climbing inside as it rolled toward the water, police said.
The dead are Michelle McIntosh, 39; her son, David Jr., 3; and a young girl who was a family friend, according to McIntosh's sister-in-law, Denise McIntosh of Massachusetts.
A 6-year-old child, who Denise McIntosh said was a nephew, was in critical condition Wednesday evening at Yale-New Haven Hospital.
The names were confirmed by the chief medical examiner's office. McIntosh lived less than a mile from the pond.
Mayor John M. Fabrizi said it was "a day of sorrow for all Bridgeporters." He pledged that the city would assist the grieving family "in any way that we can."
Around 10:45 a.m., McIntosh parked her maroon Plymouth minivan near a concession stand and got out to ask for directions to a barbecue, Fire Battalion Chief Ismael Pomales said. The van began to roll down the hill and toward the pond, about 65 yards away, he said.
McIntosh chased the minivan and managed to get inside as it went into the water, Bridgeport Police Chief Bryan Norwood said.
The van sank quickly in 15 to 20 feet of water, he said. The back hatch of the van had been opened slightly before it hit the water, Pomales said, which only made the van sink faster.
Firefighters arrived first and got into the water, but could not get deep enough because they were wearing coldwater suits that made them buoyant, he said. One firefighter managed to touch the top of the van but could not get deep enough to do more, Pomales said.
The Bridgeport Police Department's scuba team arrived about five minutes later, Pomales said, and brought three children and an adult out of the water.
The four were in the water between 20 and 25 minutes, Pomales said. Emergency responders tried to resuscitate them, then took them to area hospitals.
McIntosh died at St. Vincent's Medical Center. David McIntosh and a second child died at Bridgeport Hospital.
"It's a very sad day," Pomales said. "It's not easy to see children die."
Janet Mendez of New Haven, who was at the park for a picnic, said she heard a woman cry out for her baby. When she looked toward the water, she saw a woman running behind the minivan, Mendez said.
Men who were nearby playing volleyball went in to try to rescue the van's occupants. One man jumped in five times, Mendez said.
Later, the minivan was pulled out of the water and taken to the police department to be inspected, Bridgeport police said.
Ed Rivera, 29, the driver of the tow truck that pulled the van from the water, said a baby seat remained in the back of the van, along with towels and juice boxes. A child's shoe was found at the edge of the pond after the van was removed.
Family members gathered at the McIntoshes' home at 85 Palm St. Wednesday evening. Denise McIntosh said her sister-in-law had three other children, all daughters.
"She was devoted to her kids, devoted to her church," Denise McIntosh said. "It was an awful accident. The children are her life."
Michelle McIntosh was 14 when she met her husband, David, in Jamaica, where they lived, Denise McIntosh said. They were married in 1988 and lived in White Plains, N.Y., before moving to Connecticut.
Michelle worked in the financial assistance office of Monroe College in New Rochelle, N.Y., where she previously earned her bachelor's degree, Denise McIntosh said.
Stunned people huddled in the rain at Beardsley Park Wednesday evening.
"It's beyond belief," said Nikiesha Diaz, who said her children play with the McIntosh children.
Courant Staff Writers Arielle Levin Becker and Stephanie Heisler contributed to this report.
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