Early Monday morning in West Palm Beach, a quiet stretch of Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard and North Flagler Drive turned into an active rescue scene after a car crashed through the seawall and plunged into the Intracoastal Waterway. First responders pulled the driver from the submerged vehicle near the Fish Out of Water public art installation and rushed him to a hospital, where he later died. Authorities have not yet released the driver's name or an official cause of the crash, and investigators remained at the intersection while crews worked to recover the car and clear debris from the seawall.
Police: Driver Pulled From Water, Later Died
According to WFLX, West Palm Beach police and Fire Rescue responded around 5 a.m. and found a vehicle that had gone through the seawall and into the Intracoastal. The driver was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The station reports that the cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Video Captures Recovery Effort at Seawall
Spot On Florida reposted a WPBF 25 News video showing emergency crews gathered along the seawall and the submerged vehicle being pulled from the water. The clip, taken from WPBF's YouTube footage, offers a clear look at the dive and recovery operation as authorities worked the scene before releasing further details about the victim.
Same Intersection Saw Another Plunge Just Last Week
About a week before Monday's fatal crash, a pickup truck went into the Intracoastal at the very same intersection, and its occupants were rescued by a good Samaritan, WPTV reported. Both incidents brought out the department's dive team and underscored how quickly vehicles can go off the seawall along Flagler Drive near the public art installation.
Authorities have not released the driver's identity and said they will share more information when it becomes available, WFLX reports. Crews finished removing the vehicle from the water and clearing the area as investigators continued to examine the crash site.
