Car goes into pool in Smyrna | News

SMYRNA, Ga. -- A Mableton man's car went into a pool in a Smyrna subdivision early Thursday afternoon.

It happened shortly after noon at a community pool in the Oakdale Bluffs subdivision on Mayfield Way. The community is off of Oakdale Road near Veterans Memorial Highway.

PHOTOS | Car plunges into swimming pool

Smyrna police says the driver, Michael Sliwinski, 29 of Mableton was pulled from his black Acura by two men working nearby and a resident of the subdivision were able to pull Sliwinski from the car.

The three rescuers, workmen Eddie Brinkley and David Huebner, along with resident Kevin Mulcaity, were able to push the vehicle toward the shallow end of the pool, where they were able to open the doors and retrieve the unconscious Sliwinski. 

They said when the water poured into the vehicle, Sliwinski briefly revived, but was unable to help himself out of the care easily. The the rescuers were able to unlatch his seatbelt and retrieve him from the car.

A child seat in the car raised initial fears that Sliwinski's child was in the car, but they were quickly able to determine that Sliwinski was alone when he lost control of his vehicle.

Police said it appeared Sliwinski had a seizure of some sort, and lost control of his car before it plunged into the pool.

Sliwinski was taken to Emory Adventist Hospital in Smyrna.

The pool was originally slated to open this weekend for the summer. The opening, community leaders said, would likely be delayed through at least Sunday, as the pool needs to be drained, and a hazmat team will need to scrub down the pool's surfaces before it is refilled and opened to residents.