Man Rescued After Driving Car Into Golden Gate Park's Spreckels Lake [Updated]

Man Rescued After Driving Car Into Golden Gate Park's Spreckels Lake [Updated]Photo: David K./Hoodline
Nikki Collister
Published on September 16, 2016

Police made a rescue in Golden Gate Park's Spreckels Lake this morning, after a man drove his car into the lake. 

Tipster David K. alerted us to the incident, and snapped the photo shown above. We followed up with the SFPD, who said police received a call around 5:41am that a car had been driven into the man-made lake, which is about six feet at its deepest point. They arrived at the scene to find the driver still inside the vehicle, and broke the passenger-side window to safely remove him.

Photo: Nikki Collister/Hoodline

The driver of the car was unharmed, but it was determined that he was suffering from mental-health issues, and he was taken to the hospital and placed on a mental-health order.

It's unknown exactly how the car entered the lake, or if the man had been driving erratically before directing his vehicle into the water.

As of about 9am this morning, the car remains partially submerged in the lake, with SFPD, the Fire Department, and a tow truck standing by. We'll provide more updates as they come in.

Update, 9/27: According to the SFPD, the man "told officers that he had driven the car into the lake intentionally in a suicide attempt." He was then transported to the hospital for medical treatment and a psychological evaluation.

Photo: Nikki Collister/Hoodline