Nov. 30--A man died late Friday after he backed his SUV from Lake Shore Drive into Lake Michigan in the Loop, officials said.
The accident happened about 3 p.m. at Balbo Drive, said Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford. The victim was identified by the Cook County medical examiner's office as Randy Brittman, 51. No home address was available.
Brittman managed to travel 175 to 200 feet from the curb of Lake Shore Drive into the water, Langford said. The vehicle was being driven in reverse at a high rate of speed with the driver's side door open, he said.
The vehicle crashed through a wooden snow fence, crossed over a second bike path and then plunged into the lake, Langford said. Brittman landed about 20 feet from the edge of the water, and the vehicle was 12 to 15 feet below the surface, Langford said.
It took dive crews about 15 minutes to find Brittman in the water after he managed to get out of the SUV, Langford said.
Brittman was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in critical condition, Langford said. The SUV remained in the water until it was later fished out about 5:30 p.m.
Brittman was pronounced dead at Northwestern at 8:23 p.m. After an atuopsy, the medical examiner's office said Sunday that Brittman died of anoxic encephalopathy -- a lack of oxygen to the brain -- as a result of a motor vehicle collision and submersion in cold water.
Earlier Friday, a Chicago Park District vehicle slid off an icy bike path near Oak Street Beach and plunged into Lake Michigan as workers were removing graffiti, officials said.
No one was injured in that accident.
Tribune reporter Tony Briscoe contributed.
