A 89-year-old woman from Pennsylvania has passed away nine days after being rescued from a vehicle that fell into a retention pond at Mount Airy Casino Resort—a tragic incident that also claimed her husband’s life.
Jeanette Radzikowski, hailing from Dickson City, succumbed to complications from blunt-force trauma on August 7 at Lehigh Valley Hospital–Muhlenberg, as reported by the Lehigh County Coroner’s Office. Her death has been classified as accidental.
At the time of the incident, her 82-year-old husband, John Radzikowski Jr., was behind the wheel when their vehicle deviated from the roadway on the casino grounds shortly before 4 p.m., according to Pennsylvania State Police.
Vehicle’s Unusual Flight Path
Authorities reported that the vehicle hit a small rock curb and became airborne over an embankment before descending into the retention pond and submerging. Investigators noted that the slope between the curb and the water prevented the car from touching the ground after it got airborne.
Emergency response teams arrived on-site to conduct a water rescue after receiving reports of a submerged vehicle.
Jeanette was extracted from the water and transported to the hospital in critical condition. Meanwhile, John remained inside the vehicle as dive teams and emergency personnel worked to search the area. He was later retrieved from the submerged vehicle and pronounced deceased.
This tragic accident occurred around 3:47 p.m., per police reports.
Details Surrounding the Crash Remain Unclear
As of now, authorities have not disclosed any information regarding what led Radzikowski to exit the roadway prior to striking the curb.
The vehicle’s unusual trajectory allowed it to clear the inclined ground separating the road from the pond before entering the water, according to investigators.
The incident triggered a significant emergency response at the casino resort located in Paradise Township, Monroe County. Mount Airy Casino Resort features a casino, hotel, and an 18-hole golf course, and is adorned with several artificial lakes and ponds nestled in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains.
Pennsylvania State Police are actively pursuing the investigation into the circumstances of this unfortunate accident.