SUV plunges into swimming pool at Vermont resort, injuring children

Digital Content Manager

CAMBRIDGE, Vt. —

At least two children were injured when a vehicle crashed into a swimming pool at Smugglers’ Notch Resort in Vermont on Monday.

“I just heard a bang and a car went there,” said 9-year-old Joseph Sage. “It hit my head and pulled me under.”

The SUV tire trapped Sage underwater while he was swimming.

“I have a scratch on my head from it,” Sage said. “I have scratches on my finger. My side hurts a little.”

Officials said the incident happened around 3:30 p.m. Monday when the SUV drove through a fence and landed in a pool, hitting Sage and others on its way down.

“My dad over there pulled me out, and he pulled me down for a second, pulled another girl out,” Sage said.

Sage’s family said they saw that girl drive away in an ambulance.

Hours later, a crane pulled the SUV out of the water. It was towed away.

Sage’s family said they’re still in shock.

“I got the call that was very confusing, and so all I heard was Joey got hit by a car in the pool,” said Grendel Clark, Sage’s family member. “I freaked out.”

Clark said their family is feeling grateful for many coincidences as they process what happened.

“I just cannot stand thinking about if his feet had been solidly on the ground when it landed on him,” Clark said. “If my brother-in-law hadn’t been there, which it’s usually my mom who was with them, and she wouldn’t have been in the pool with them.”

A Vermont State Police trooper was seen placing a person in handcuffs and putting them in the back of a cruiser. Multiple witnesses told sister station WPTZ that the person taken into custody was the driver of the SUV.

Clark said they comforted the woman before she left in a cruiser.

“I said my sister who, like I said, is upstairs and will not come down, she’s very upset [and] wanted me to let you know that her kid is okay because he was the one under the car and she just shook and sobbed and hugged me and said she was so sorry,” Clark said.

Resort officials said something like this has never happened before. They’re reminding guests that the speed limit is 14 miles an hour on the property, and they’re encouraging people to be extra cautious and attentive while driving there.

“We want to make sure that people are aware that we’ve got a lot of things happening here,” said Steve Clokey, the resort’s chief marketing officer. “We’ve got bikes, golf carts, kids. All the reasons why you need to be on top of how you drive here.”

Photos provided to WPTZ show a dark blue SUV fully submerged in the water.

The remains of a fence can be seen after the vehicle appears to have smashed through it and into the water.

Vermont State Police said because of the ages of the people involved, they aren’t releasing the identity of the driver or any further information at this time.