Tesla driver thrown into Gulf during crash, Florida cops say. Then boater saves him
A Tesla driver was launched into the Gulf of Mexico when he lost control of his car and crashed into mangroves, Florida authorities said.
Then a nearby boater stepped in.
At about 12:30 p.m. July 24, the 25-year-old St. Petersburg man was approaching the Skyway Bridge on Interstate 275 south at “a high rate of speed,” Florida Highway Patrol said.
He veered off the road in his Tesla sedan, running into a drainage pond and eventually overturning in a cluster of mangroves, troopers said.
He wasn’t wearing a seat belt, and he was thrown from the car into the Gulf with “serious injuries,” authorities said.
A passing boater spotted the man and picked him up, bringing him to the Maximo Park boat ramp for transport to a hospital, according to highway patrol.
A crane hauled the car out of the mangroves.
St. Petersburg is part of the Tampa Bay area.
What to do if you’re in a car crash
More than 5 million traffic accidents were reported by police in 2020, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
“No one wants to get into a car crash. But being prepared and knowing what to do if you are involved in an accident can save lives, reduce injuries and make the claims process simpler and easier,” the Insurance Information Institute said on its website.
Here are 10 things you should do if you’re in a car crash:
Pull the vehicle over to a safe place on the side of the road if possible.
Assess any possible injuries and make sure everyone is OK.
Call 911 if anyone is injured.
Assess the car damage and take photos if possible.
Don’t leave the scene.
If the vehicle involved was unattended, leave a note with your name and phone number.
Note the names and contact information of everyone in the crash, the makes and models of the cars, and the location of the crash.
Ask other drivers for a license, car registration and insurance ID.
Report the crash to police or highway patrol.
File an accident report even if police can’t come to the scene, and notify your insurance shortly after.
This story was originally published July 25, 2024 at 9:27 AM with the headline "Tesla driver thrown into Gulf during crash, Florida cops say. Then boater saves him."