Man accidentally drives into harbor in Huntington Beach
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A motorist accidentally drove into the water near the Huntington Harbour Bay Club Condominiums Tuesday, but escaped without significant injury.
The man drove a white sedan into the water just before 9 a.m. at Warner Avenue and Edgewater Lane, according to Huntington Beach Police Department spokesperson Jessica Cuchilla.
Huntington Beach Fire Department personnel and members of the department’s Marine Safety Division Dive Team responded to the scene to ensure there were no additional occupants in the submerged vehicle, HBFD reported on social media Tuesday.
Fire crews worked with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Harbor Patrol to develop and coordinate a safe recovery plan for the submerged vehicle, the tail end of which was visible beneath the water’s surface.
Cuchilla confirmed Wednesday that the sedan had been retrieved from the harbor through a collaboration between HBPD, Marine Safety and an area tow company.
“We want to make sure when we salvage it that it’s safe for the ocean and everyone around the property,” she said of the process.
The driver, whose identity has not been released to the public but was described as being in his 60s, managed to get out on his own before first responders arrived on scene, Cuchilla said. He was taken to a hospital and evaluated as a precaution, she said.
It appears the driver may have hit the accelerator instead of the brake, Cuchilla added.
Updates
12:08 p.m. Aug. 5, 2026: This story was updated to include information about the retrieval of the submerged vehicle, provided by an HBPD spokesperson.
