The man who drove his car into the Delaware River in Bristol Borough on Sunday morning appeared to do so intentionally.
The man, who was 37 and from Philadelphia, maneuvered his car across Bristol Lions Park, struck a bench, drove over boulders, and landed in the river around 6:35 a.m. Bystanders dialed 9-1-1 and a man attempted to swim out to the car as it floated in the river.
Advertisements
According to witness accounts and a video shown to LevittownNow.com, the car slowly took on water and eventually went down near the fishing pier attached to the wharf after the driver opened the trunk, causing water to quickly rush in the rear of the compact car. The driver remained inside the entire time.
Police Chief Steve Henry said the cause of death hasn’t been officially ruled by the coroner, but the driver’s actions appeared intentional.
The car settled under several feet of water at the base of the fishing pier. Emergency responders used long poles to locate it and firefighters in boats came to the scene. Divers from the Trenton Fire Department went down and checked the vehicle, which held the driver’s body inside.
Advertisements
Crews worked for hours along the waterfront and a large wrecker from Rob’s Automotive was used to pull the car from the bottom of the river.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, the National Crisis Line can be reached day or night at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Advertisements
Bucks County also operates an around-the-clock crisis line at 1-800-499-7455.
Report a correction via email | Editorial standards and policies
