Car Plunges Into Lake (With Photo Gallery)

July 27, 2012

There were no injuries when a car plunged into a lake on Pine Forest Road Thursday night.

Craig Rutledge, 50, was traveling through the Silver Lake Mobile Home Park in the 7300 block of Pine Forest Road when he hit a parked Nissan Sentra on the shoulder of the road leading into the mobile home park, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.  He continued to travel east, striking a water main and running off into the lake at the front of the mobile home park.

Witnesses jumped into the water following the 9:31 p.m. accident and tried to rescue Rutledge. He later exited the vehicle while it was submerged, according to the FHP.

Rutledge was not injured. He was charged with careless driving and driving while license suspended, troopers said.

The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team was called to the scene to search for any other possible occupants of the vehicle and assist with removing the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu from the water.

For a photo gallery from the scene, click here.

Pictured top: Dive team members assist in removing submerged a car from a lake on Pine Forest Road Thursday night. Pictured inset: The driver of the car was not injured when he plunged into this lake. Pictured below: The car after it was removed from the water. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.


Comments

6 Responses to “Car Plunges Into Lake (With Photo Gallery)”

  1. Robin on July 27th, 2012 4:24 pm

    Silver lake is still without water.

  2. paul on July 27th, 2012 1:56 pm

    I’ve been underwater twice and it isn’t a good feeling.. The first time it was upside down and dark and I really thought I was gonna die.. I had to go back in and rescue the driver, I don’t know how he held his breath so long.. The second time it was right side up so I didn’t get too excited.. Been there done that..

  3. resident on July 27th, 2012 12:04 pm

    Thanks for the coverage. It really did look like every blue and red flashing light in Pensacola was there.

  4. Laura B [former Pine Forest resident] on July 27th, 2012 11:59 am

    William, Thanks for this story. When I scanned the PNJ website I didn’t see the story at first. I found it there, eventually, after going to another page with “More Local News”, but there were no photos. Once again, even though this incident happened south of I-10, your coverage was better than theirs, by far!

  5. Marie on July 27th, 2012 9:44 am

    I guess that is why he has a suspended license.

  6. Henry Coe on July 27th, 2012 3:32 am

    Glad he’s ok.

    I’d give him points for originality. In all my years I don’t recall anyone driving into that lake.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News