The Enterprise of Brockton
www.enterprisenews.com
HORRIFIC PLUNGE
Divers find couple unresponsive after SUV goes off Plymouth boat ramp
By Elaine Allegrini
ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
PLYMOUTH — A young couple were trapped under water for nearly 30 minutes before divers pulled them from an SUV that jumped a curb and a 2-foot berm and landed in water at the state boat ramp late Wednesday.
The pair were trapped in the vehicle, which overturned and was fully submerged in about 20 feet of water at high tide. They had been in the water for at least 28 minutes and were unresponsive when divers used a prybar to get to inside the SUV, according to Deputy Fire Chief Martin Enos, one of the divers who entered the murky water in the dramatic rescue effort.
Early reports said one of the victims was a 27-year-old Plymouth resident.
Dozens of firefighters and police officers responded to the boat ramp off Water Street after the call for help came in about 10:20 p.m.
Several police officers jumped into the water in an attempt to rescue the couple, but were unable to reach them in the overturned vehicle.
Wrapped in towels, the officers remained at the scene as Fire Department divers took over the rescue, then the officers assisted in getting the victims to ambulances.
Police declined to immediately identify the victims, who were taken to Jordan Hospital. One of the victims had an Alabama driver's license, authorities said.
The vehicle had a Massachusetts license plate.
Witnesses said the couple were in the front seat of the silver Jeep Grand Cherokee and parked along the outer wall of the boat ramp when the driver, believed to be the male, put the vehicle in reverse, then slammed it into drive, propelling it over the sidewalk and cement berm.
There were no visible marks on the cement berm to confirm that route of entry.
The vehicle landed in the area between the sidewalk that rims the boat ramp and the new portable launching ramp that extends into the harbor.
An employee at East Bay Grille at the other side of the boat ramp said he heard the noise and rushed out to investigate.
Francis Datri, 18, of White Horse Beach in Plymouth watched in amazement as the Jeep went over the wall.
"It went right up and over," he said.
The female passenger was trying to punch the windshield out as the car went deeper and deeper into the water, he added.
Datri said he did not notice anything unusual in or around the car before it went over the berm.
A large crowd, including late-night fishermen, gathered on the boat ramp during the rescue operation. The Jeep was not pulled from the water until the early morning hours.
Police were still interviewing witnesses at the scene at midnight. Additional information is expected to be released later today.
Loading...
1:58WHBby shaneohare2,117 views
Featured Video
All Comments