Rockford teen dies in roadside pond

OTTOVILLE — A 17-year-old driver from Mercer County died late Saturday in Putnam County when her car veered off the road and into a pond. Emergency responders searched frantically in response to the teen's cellphone call for help but were unable to find her in time for a rescue.

Brianna E. Coon, of Rockford, was pronounced dead at the scene Sunday morning along county Road P in Monterey Township, about a mile north of Ottoville and just east of the Little Auglaize River.

Lt. Brant A. Zemelka, commander of the Lima post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, said Coon's eastbound car was crossing the bridge over the river when the change of contour and a right-hand curve in the road caused her to brake suddenly. The car went off the pavement, rolled up an embankment and drove into the pond at 24962 county Road P.

Coon managed to call 911 at 11:03 p.m. Saturday, and her call was intercepted by the Van Wert County 911 Center, said Putnam County Sheriff James Beutler. Dispatchers began to trace the location of her phone. Coordinates revealed she was north of Ottoville but her exact location could not be determined.

“Troopers from the Defiance, Van Wert and Lima posts along with Putnam and Van Wert county sheriffs' deputies spent a lengthy amount of time trying to locate the victim and her vehicle,” Zemelka said.

The only clue they had to go on was the last known communication tower the submerged teen's cellphone signal reached during a frantic call to the Van Wert County Sheriff's Office, he said.

A dispatcher with the Van Wert County Sheriff's Office said details of the 911 call were not available Sunday.

Coon's 1995 white Dodge Neon had been completely submerged for about two hours when a state trooper spotted a hubcap alongside the pond. The hubcap was from a Neon.

The Putnam County Sheriff's Dive Team arrived at the scene and helped remove the car from the pond. Coon was inside the vehicle when it was pulled from the water. Putnam County Coroner Anna Horstman pronounced her dead at the scene.

Zemelka said troopers were still investigating the accident Sunday afternoon. Alcohol was not believed to be a factor, he said. Coon was wearing a seat belt.

A funeral service for Brianna Coon will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at Ketcham-Ripley Funeral Home in Rockford. Friends may call at the funeral home from 2 to 8 p.m. Friday and from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Condolences may be expressed at http://ketchamripley.com. Other funeral arrangements were incomplete Sunday evening.