(Photo by JEFFREY HASTINGS) A rescue diver guides the tow truck operator pulling the submerged vehicle out of Lake Massabesic after it rolled into the water near Front Park Sunday morning.

AUBURN — Reports that a vehicle had landed in Lake Massabesic drew first-responders from Auburn and Derry to the area of Front Park off the Londonderry Turnpike Sunday morning.

While responders were on the way they received conflicting reports of whether there was anyone in the vehicle, but an Auburn officer, who was the first to arrive,

located a man who bystanders had helped out of his vehicle and back to shore.

The bystanders told police they saw the vehicle go into the lake. They said the man was sitting in the car when, for unknown reasons, it began going forward. It went over a rock wall, down a small embankment and into the water, according to the bystanders.

The man was wet and cold, and shaken up by the ordeal, but he was able to walk to a police cruiser to warm up and await the arrival of an ambulance.

(Photo by JEFFREY HASTINGS) Rescue divers hitch ropes and a cable to the vehicle that landed in Lake Massabesic Sunday morning as a tow truck operator on shore prepares to pull the car back onshore.

While Auburn divers went in to make sure there was nobody else in the vehicle, medical personnel evaluated the man before transporting him to the Elliot Hospital for treatment of what are believed to be minor injuries.

The divers placed absorbent booms around the vehicle to collect any oil or other fluids that could leak into the water.

They then attached a cable and ropes to the car to prevent it from floating farther into the lake, then used a winch to bring it closer to shore.

A large rig from Grant Towing then hooked up to the vehicle and pulled it out of the water and up the embankment.

Representatives of Manchester Water Works and WaterShed Patrol were on scene to assist Auburn police in investigating whether any damage had occurred to the property or the lake.

(Photo by JEFFREY HASTINGS) A pair of rescue divers check around the inside of the submerged vehicle to make sure nobody execpt the driver was inside when it rolled into Lake Massabesic near Front Park Sunday morning. The driver was not seriously injured, and was helped from the car by witnesses.

–JEFFREY HASTINGS