(KRON) — One person is dead after a car plunged off the Santa Cruz Wharf and into the Pacific Ocean at 9:44 a.m. Sunday, according to the Santa Cruz Fire Department.
Rescue divers found the victim unconscious in the sunken car with the windows still intact, SCFD Battalion Chief Josh Coleman said. The car was submerged in about 30 feet of water for roughly 10 minutes when the victim was pulled from the wreckage.
“Responders were able to break the window of the car and extricate the single subject inside,” Coleman said.
The victim was taken to a local hospital by ambulance and was ultimately pronounced dead. A dog was also found in the water in the area of the crash. The dog was rescued and is in the care of Santa Cruz County animal control officers.
The Santa Cruz Fire Department, Central Fire, California State Parks officials, Scott’s Valley Fire and the Santa Cruz Police Department all responded to the emergency. Video of the scene shows numerous rescue swimmers in the area following the crash.
The wharf was temporarily closed to the public during the emergency but has since reopened.
“Please be mindful of unauthorized areas as crews are still working on the emergency incident,” the Santa Cruz Wharf stated on social media.
There is no information that would indicate another victim was inside the car at the time of the crash, SCFD officials said. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
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