Nov. 6, 2001 – A motorist was considered lucky to be alive after her car ended up in about 25 feet of water around 3 a.m. Tuesday. The four-door compact car veered off Veterans Drive onto the waterfront apron across from the downtown Bank of Nova Scotia building and plummeted into the waters of St. Thomas harbor.
Norman John Jr., one of those who helped rescue the woman, said Tuesday that he and two other men had seen the car heading west on the four-lane highway but then it disappeared as the driver apparently lost control of the vehicle.
"We noticed the car was nowhere around but found seawater on the bulkhead, so we concluded that the car went into the water," John said.
The driver was able to exit the vehicle and was face up in the water as the men peered over the bulkhead. John said the wave action brought her close enough to the bulkhead for them to rescue her. Although her "weight and her size made it a bit difficult," he said, "we were able to get her onto the bulkhead and get her breathing again."
He said he and his friends then called 911 for assistance from police and an ambulance.
The woman, whose identity was not available, was admitted to Roy L. Schneider Hospital, where she remained hospitalized Tuesday for treatment and observation.
Her vehicle was retrieved from the harbor around 9 a.m. Towing service personnel hoisted the car out of the water with the assistance of a diver and a marine enforcement team from the Planning and Natural Resources Department.
Police officials had no comment Tuesday on the incident.
