Man who drove vehicle into water at Windsor marina ticketed for careless driving, police say

A man who drove his vehicle into the water at Lakeview Marina on Monday night has been issued a ticket for careless driving, Windsor police say.

But he won't face any legal action related to environmental damage because there doesn't appear to be any, Windsor's harbourmaster said.

"The only pollution I would say was maybe three empty water bottles that floated out of the car as it went under," Peter Berry said. 

The driver appeared to be backing into a parking lot on the west side of the marina, when he appeared to hit the accelerator instead of the brake and launched his car about six metres (20 feet) off the edge of the lot and into the water, pushing a planter out of the way in the process, Berry said.

"He did have the wherewithal to climb out of the passenger side window, which was partially open,"  he said.

"Otherwise he would have … gone under with the car. … The water pressure would have kept the doors closed. And, of course, the electric windows are no longer working. So good for him, he had that window open."

The driver appeared to be shaken and cold, Berry said, and was unhappy about the loss of his vehicle. But he was happy to have survived.

The car hit the water near the blue pilings and missed hitting any boats by about two feet, Berry added. There was also no damage to the dock, and there was no sheen on the water indicating a fluid leak of any kind.

Photos and videos circulating on social media show a large crane lifting the dark-coloured SUV from the water, its front windshield smashed and large clumps of seaweed hanging from its undercarriage.