Car Plunges Into Canal Near San Marco Bridge; Emergency Crews Launch Rescue Effort

A late-evening emergency response unfolded Tuesday after a vehicle veered off the roadway and plunged into a canal roughly one mile north of the San Marco Bridge, according to early dispatch reports.

Fire-rescue crews and sheriff’s deputies raced to the scene just after the initial 911 calls came in, finding the car partially submerged along the canal bank with its rear end angled upward and the front end fully underwater. Flashing lights illuminated the dark stretch of roadway as first responders worked quickly to assess the situation.

Authorities have not yet released information about the driver or whether any passengers were inside the vehicle at the time of the crash. Dive teams were deployed to search the water and confirm that no one remained trapped inside the submerged portion of the car. Recovery personnel also worked to secure the vehicle and prevent it from slipping deeper into the canal.

The cause of the incident remains unclear. Investigators are examining skid marks, roadway conditions, and witness statements as they work to determine whether speed, impairment, a medical emergency, or another factor contributed to the crash.

Traffic in the immediate area was temporarily restricted as crews operated along the canal edge and heavy recovery equipment was brought in.

Officials say the investigation is ongoing and more details will be released once they are confirmed.

News credit Palmetto Breaking News