BAZETTA — A man with dementia who had previously been reported missing drove his minivan off the boat ramp near state Route 305 into Mosquito Lake late Monday, according to police reports.

Donald Whittaker, 85, of Mineral Ridge, was barely breathing when he was rescued, according to reports. Officials did not release his updated condition this morning.

Whittaker had been among those featured on the missing adult website published by state Attorney General David Yost.

Trumbull County authorities, including rescue boats from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources worked into the early morning hours to rescue the occupant of the vehicle that drove off the boat ramp about 11 p.m. into Mosquito Creek Lake near a roadway leading from Bazetta Township Park.

According to Trumbull County 911 reports, witnesses saw the 2006 Chrysler Pacifica minivan drive into the lake about 10:55 p.m.

The vehicle was traveling about 15 to 20 mph and the water was up to the door. About five minutes later, the vehicle was estimated to be 75 feet away from the boat launch. The occupant of the vehicle was out by 11:16 p.m.

Divers searched the lake twice to make sure no one else was submerged. The minivan was removed from the lake about 12:15 a.m. this morning, the 911 report states.

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