BMW Plunges Into Boca Ciega Bay
Two witnesses saved the driver's life, after his car veered off the road and over a sea wall near Isla Key Bridge, on 54th Ave S.
Photos
An unidentified driver was pulled from his submerged car this morning by two men after the vehicle swerved off 54th Avenue South in St. Petersburg, near the Isla Key Bridge.
The driver is in stable condition after being rushed to Palms of Pasadena Hospital. Two men who happened to witness the crash say the driver was trapped inside the vehicle.
Kevin Daly of St. Petersburg was one of the two witnesses who plucked the driver from the vehicle. Daly was fishing when he saw the car veer into Boca Ciega Bay, at about 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Daly told authorities he watched as the BMW veered off the side of the road, down the embankment and over the sea wall.
Gus Hertz of Roanoke, Va., also happened to see the crash occur from the window of his condominium. He rushed downstairs and to the scene to help.
The crash occurred next to the Isla Key Bridge, which is across the bay from Gulfport and near Eckerd College.
The two men pulled the driver from the car and the St. Petersburg Fire & Rescue responded to a call. Paramedics treated the driver at the scene before transporting him to Pasadena Hospital.
Lynda
4:44 pm on Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Good reporting, Cherlene! This is the type of incident that local people always want info about and it hardly ever makes it into larger, less local media. Thanks.
Cherlene Willis
7:44 pm on Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Lynda,
Thanks so much! And thanks for staying tuned to Gulfport Patch for all your local news! - Cherlene
Rob Fowler
12:03 am on Thursday, June 14, 2012
See, a beautiful bridge from Gulfport's 49th Street South to Tierra Verde would ease so much traffic on that road.
Of course, a cool modern elevated fishing parking scenic area on the Gulfport side of the one dne day to be named Boca Ciega Bridge would be great fo our town! I would like to see it high enough to see over our tree line and grasp a perspective of where we are in the urban and rural scope of Pinellas County.
Dreaming...
Peter Mould
2:34 am on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
It is always good to hear stories involving good samaritans who are willing to help a stranger save his life. I wonder what caused the driver to lose control of his BMW and veered off the road. Was he drunk or was he avoiding a potential road hazard? Nonetheless, BMW and other car manufacturers could review the design of their cars to avoid drivers and passengers from not getting stuck inside the car in case similar accidents were to occur. This way, at least they could swim up to safety and not drown to death if noone is around to help.
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