MOULTONBOROUGH –– A 77-year-old man died after accidentally driving his sports utility vehicle into Lake Winnipesaukee on Wednesday night, according to local authorities.
Police identified the deceased as Barry Haight of Moultonborough.
Haight’s vehicle veered off a cul-de-sac and down a boat ramp into the lake around 9 p.m.
He was reportedly trapped in the submerged SUV for nearly an hour and a half before he was discovered.
Family members and neighbors began searching for Haight when he did not return from a trip to the community dumpster, police said.
“We received assistance from a retired firefighter who lives nearby,” said Moultonborough Fire Chief David Bengtson. “He had entered the water, pulled the victim from the car, and was performing CPR when we arrived.”
Police identified the heroic neighbor as Thomas Bishop, a Call Firefighter for the Carlisle, MA, Fire Department.
Emergency services transported Haight to Concord Hospital-Laconia, where he was later pronounced dead.
Describing the incident as an “unfortunate and tragic accident,” police said the SUV was successfully removed from the lake and towed from the scene.
New Hampshire Marine Patrol has been notified of the incident as per the protocol.
