A vehicle went into Lake Phalen in St. Paul on Monday afternoon, sending bystanders rushing to pull the driver from the water while a dive team searched the lake for possible passengers. The driver was pulled out by people nearby and rushed to the hospital by first responders.
The Ramsey County dive team was still searching the lake for possible passengers after the vehicle went into the water, according to the St. Paul Fire Department, as reported by KSTP. Divers were working to verify that the driver had been the only person in the car, a step that underscores just how uncertain the scene remained even after the rescue. It is unknown at this time why the person drove into the lake, per the same report.
Bystanders Acted Before Crews Arrived
Bystanders in the area rescued the driver before first responders took over and transported them to the hospital, according to the station's report. No further details on the driver's identity or condition were available at the time of the report, and the circumstances that sent the vehicle into the water remained unclear.
This is not the only recent case of a car ending up in a St. Paul lake. More than a year earlier, St. Paul fire and police departments responded to Lake Como after a vehicle reportedly drove into the water there as well, according to a separate KSTP report. In that incident, the driver was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, and investigators said it was unknown how the vehicle ended up in the water.
Lake Phalen's History With Water Emergencies
Monday's search is also a reminder that Lake Phalen has seen tragedy before. Back in 2014, a man drowned in the lake after one of his family members reportedly saw him go underwater while swimming near a beach platform around 8 p.m. on a Saturday, according to an Associated Press report carried by krocnews.com. Divers ultimately recovered his body from the lake in that case.
As of the latest update, no additional information had emerged about the outcome of Monday's search or whether any other passengers were found. Hoodline will continue to follow developments out of St. Paul as more details become available.
