WATCH: Car Plunges Into Nantucket Harbor On Surveillance Video
Jason Graziadei •
A surveillance video camera attached to the White Elephant hotel captured the moment a Nissan Rogue plunged into Nantucket Harbor during the early morning hours of July 2nd.
The video and a police report that provides new details on the crash were obtained by the Current through a Freedom of Information Act request to the Nantucket Police Department.
The driver, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle, was uninjured in the crash. Police do not believe drugs or alcohol were involved, and the woman is not facing any charges.
“She’s new to the island and due to the extremely thick fog and her unfamiliarity with the area, she drove into the water mistakenly," Nantucket Police Lt. Angus MacVicar told the Current. "It was just an unfortunate situation. I imagine she’ll be looking for a new vehicle.”
The police report indicates the woman had been on the island for only two days and had never been to Nantucket before. She told police that she was trying to go to her residence. The video, which came from a town-owned surveillance camera attached to the White Elephant hotel, indicated she likely drove the wrong way down Harbor View Way before entering the boat ramp and driving into the water.
The vehicle entered the water at 1:28 a.m. Six minutes later, the driver walks away from the scene. The crash was reported at 2:14 a.m., according to officer Derek Witherell's report.
The woman "stated by the time she realized she drove into the water it was too late and she could not back up out of the water," Witherell stated in his report. "Officers did not observe any signs of impairment. (the woman) was asked several times if she wanted to be checked out by medical personnel, which she declined."
The report concludes that the crash "can be attributed to heavy fog, dark roadways and inexperience."