A 61-year-old Lakeland man was found dead early Thursday after his Toyota Prius rolled down an embankment and sank into a retention pond off County Line Road. Emergency crews pulled the car from the water and located the driver inside. Preliminary checks turned up no obvious signs of foul play, officials said, and the case remains under investigation.
What police say
According to Lakeland police, officers were called around 2:11 a.m. to a property at 2600 County Line Road after a grey Toyota Prius left the grassy shoulder, backed into a concrete Lakeland Electric pole, then pulled forward, went down an embankment and entered the retention pond. The Lakeland Police Department’s dive team recovered the submerged vehicle and found the driver, identified as Paul Greenberg, 61, deceased, as reported by the Tampa Free Press.
Detectives say the investigation is active and anyone with information is asked to contact Officer Matthew Hermann at [email protected].
Pond submersions are a recurring risk
Crashes that end with vehicles underwater are not rare in the region. In May, a Pasco County crash in which a vehicle hit an electrical box and then sank was detailed by FOX 13. Video-recorded rescues of drivers pulled from sinking vehicles have also been featured on local newscasts this spring, according to WSVN.
In another May case in Miami-Dade County, a child was pulled from a pond and later died, underscoring how quickly these incidents can turn fatal, Local 10 reported.
Safety reminders and next steps
Emergency responders advise that if a vehicle enters water, drivers should try to lower the windows and unbuckle seat belts immediately, escape through a window if possible, and call 911 once they are clear. Bystanders who see a car go under are urged to call authorities and mark the location to help divers, according to reporting that compiled guidance from local rescuers and safety groups.
Investigators in Lakeland continue to piece together what led to Thursday’s crash and are asking anyone with tips to contact the department. Officials say the probe remains active and ongoing.
