Man Killed After Car Crashes, Plunges Into Schuylkill River
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Authorities have pulled the body of man from the Schuylkill River after a crash that sent his car plunging into the water.
It happened around 2:30 a.m. Saturday along Kelly Drive in Fairmount Park.
Police say it appears the driver was speeding down Ferry Road and trying to avoid a red light when he lost control of his car, crashed into the barriers and then flipped into the river.
"A witness did say it appears as though the car came down the off-ramp here from Route 1, and may have lost control, hit the wall, it became airborne, and it then flipped mid-air and went into the river," said Police Captain Robert Richie. "We believe that the car may have come into contact with one of the two poles before it went airborne."
It took four divers and a couple dozen first responders several hours to free the 26-year-old man from the wreckage out of about six-feet of water. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators believe the victim died from the impact of the crash.
Authorities says it's unclear if drugs or alcohol played a role in the accident, but investigators were expected to conduct a toxicology test.