A bystander jumped into the Civic Center Lagoon before dawn Thursday, July 23, and pulled a driver from a sinking sedan before San Rafael firefighters arrived on scene.
Engine 57 and Medic 57 responded to reports of a vehicle in the lagoon at approximately 3:30 a.m., according to a press release from the City of San Rafael. When crews reached the north bank, a Marin County Sheriff's deputy was already there with the driver and the passerby who had gone into the water after witnessing the car enter the lagoon.
The driver sustained only minor injuries and was transported to a local emergency department. The passerby was uninjured.
Firefighter enters lagoon for vehicle recovery
About an hour later, at 4:35 a.m., Engine 57 returned after a tow truck operator could not reach the submerged sedan. A firefighter equipped for water operations entered the lagoon and secured chains to the vehicle's rear wheels. Those chains were connected to tow cables, and the car was pulled from the water.
Station 57 sits at 3530 Civic Center Drive, steps from the lagoon, which helps explain the rapid response time.
The California Highway Patrol is investigating what caused the vehicle to enter the water. No contributing factors have been released.
The city's statement credited the passerby's quick action and the coordinated response of the Marin County Sheriff's Office, San Rafael Fire Department, and the tow company with preventing a worse outcome, noting that waterways present significant hazards during nighttime hours.
