Home / Disasters and Accidents / Motorist Plunges Off Santa Cruz Wharf, Prompting Underwater Rescue
Motorist Plunges Off Santa Cruz Wharf, Prompting Underwater Rescue
26 Oct
Summary
- Motorist drove off Santa Cruz Wharf into Monterey Bay
- Rescue divers located vehicle on 30-foot ocean floor
- Lifeguards extricated unconscious person, who was pronounced dead
On Sunday, October 22nd, 2025, a tragic incident occurred at the Santa Cruz Wharf in California. Around 9:44 AM, bystanders witnessed a vehicle break through a section of the wooden railing and plunge into Monterey Bay. Emergency crews, including a team of 13 lifeguards, responded to the scene.
The lifeguards entered the water and conducted a search in "very unfavorable conditions," according to Battalion Chief Josh Coleman of the Santa Cruz Fire Department. After approximately 10 minutes, the rescue divers located the vehicle on its roof at the bottom of the 30-foot ocean floor. They broke a car window and extricated an unconscious person from inside.
The victim was brought to the surface and transported to an ambulance waiting at the harbor. Sadly, the person was pronounced dead at Dignity Hospital. Lifeguards also rescued a dog from the water, though it's unclear whether the dog had been inside the vehicle. The dog was taken to the county animal shelter.
No one else was injured during the incident. Coleman praised the brave efforts of the lifeguards and firefighters, noting that the challenging rescue operation lasted 33 minutes. A heavy wrecker was used to extricate the submerged vehicle from the ocean floor.
