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Westport Police: Man Dies, Woman Saved After Car Goes Into Saugatuck River

WESTPORT, Conn. — A man died after a car went into the Saugatuck River in Westport, but the actions of diners at a riverside restaurant who called 911 after hearing a woman's screams saved one life Saturday night, police said.

A woman was rescued from the Saugatuck River in Westport after a vehicle went into the river, but a man died, Westport police said.

A woman was rescued from the Saugatuck River in Westport after a vehicle went into the river, but a man died, Westport police said.

Photo Credit: Google Maps/Streetview

At about 7:40 p.m. Saturday, patrons from the Whelk Restaurant at 575 Riverside Ave. heard a woman screaming for help, said a statement from Westport police Lt. David Farrell. They could not see the woman, but heard screams coming from the Saugatuck River and called 911, Farrell said. The area is along the river and near I-95. 

Westport police officers and firefighters responded immediately along with members of the Connecticut State Police, Norwalk Police and Fairfield Police. 

Emergency responders saw a woman struggling in the middle of the river and heading north with the current, Farrell said. 

Westport firefighters and police officers boarded a civilian boat on the side of the river and rescued the woman from the cold water of the Saugatuck River, he said. She told rescuers that "she was in a vehicle and ended up in the water," Farrell said. 

She said that a man had been in the car with her and that he might still be in the water, he said. She was taken to Norwalk Hospital.

About a half-hour later, officers saw the man farther north up the river near the Bridge Street bridge, Farrell said. The man was pulled from the water and transported to Norwalk Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, he said. The identity was withheld pending notification of the next of kin. 

The Westport Dive Team was on the scene assisting with the removal of the vehicle from the river, Farrell said.      

No foul play is suspected in the accident, Farrell said. The incident is under investigation by the Westport Police Department.

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