Police: Driver Dies After SUV Crashes Into Delaware River At Penn's Landing
By Dan Wing and Elizabeth Hur
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Philadelphia Police say a man is dead after crashing his car into the Delaware River at Penn's Landing Monday night.
Police say it appears the black Volkswagon SUV rear-ended another vehicle at 4th and Arch Streets, and was trying to get away from the scene.
Jesse Schemesh, Eyewitness said, "It was something you never see here and probably will never see again."
Marc Didonato, Eyewitness added, "He had to be doing about 100 to 110, hit the wall and I just saw him flying through the air, the back hatch opened up and it went straight into the water."
Battalion Chief Robert Clark of the Philadelphia Fire Department explained, as the vehicle came down the ramp from Chestnut Street to Penn's Landing, the car went out of control.
"For whatever reason, whether it was break failure or what, there are no skid marks, but he came right over that wall behind you and into the river," Clark said.
Two Good Samaritans jumped in the water to try to help the 36-year-old driver, who was trapped, but they were unable to get him free until rescue crews arrived on the scene just before 6 p.m.
Clark added, "He went right across the pedestrian ramp. Thank God there was no function going on, if that ramp would have been crowded, this would have been a lot worse."
The driver was taken to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
An investigation is underway.
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