Lonsdale Man Takes Unexpected Plunge, Saved by Good Samaritan

Rice County Sheriff Troy Dunn reports that around 6:15 this morning his deputies were dispatched to a report of a vehicle in a holding pond.

The location was in Erin Township at Millersburg Boulevard and Independence Avenue.

Dunn says a passing motorist assisted the lone occupant of the vehicle by breaking out a back window and pulling him from the vehicle before it completely submerged in the pond.

The driver, 67-year-old Larry Stavos of Lonsdale, was transported to Northfield Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, the sheriff said.

Dunn says, "Mr. Stavos was fortunate this good Samaritan was there to extricate him from the vehicle. This easily could have been a serious injury crash or fatality if it weren't for the heroic actions of this passing motorist."

Dunn added that he hopes to recognize the good Samaritan for those actions in the near future.

The sheriff says possible charges against the driver are pending toxicology results, and it is unknown whether Stavos was wearing a seat belt.

The crash remains under investigation by the Rice County Sheriff's Office.