Rescue units may get diving gear in wake of 2 drownings in pond

Ann Arbor officials will look at the possibility of equipping city firefighters or police officers with scuba gear in hopes of being in a better position to prevent a tragedy such as the weekend drowning of two Huron High School juniors.

Meanwhile, blood tests revealed that neither Jennifer Hutton nor Nora MacAdam had been using drugs or alcohol when their car plunged into a pond at Northbury Condominiums late Friday night, according to Ann Arbor Police Sgt. Norm Melby. Results of the blood tests, performed at the University of Michigan Hospitals, were delivered to Melby this morning.

Drug and alcohol use had not been suspected of the girls, who were active in the high school’s Students Against Drunken Driving chapter.

At the council meeting, Councilwoman Ingrid Sheldon, R-2nd Ward, choked back tears as she recounted how tow truck owner Denny Brewer told her of his “frustration of not having available trained divers to assist in the rescue” of the 16-year-old girls.

Deputies had to get their diving gear from the sheriff's department before going to the scene.

Hutton of 3919 Lexington St. and MacAdam of 3485 Georgetown Blvd. were trapped underwater for two hours in MacAdam’s car.

Part of the delay in getting to the girls, Sheldon told the City Council Monday night, was because Ann Arbor police had to call in Washtenaw County sheriff’s deputies from home. The deputies had to get their diving gear from the sheriff's department before going to the scene of the accident.

Sheldon said there are trained divers in the police and fire departments and asked City Administrator Del Borgsdorf to look at the possibility of funding a rescue team. Borgsdorf agreed.

If the city would take the first step, Sheldon said Brewer has offered to provide a car which could be used for practicing underwater extractions.