Autopsy shows man who drove off Englishtown Ferry died from drowning

RCMP are investigating the possibility that Jerry Hengeveld, 81, may have been the driver of the car that plunged into a bay in Cape Breton.

A medical examiner has confirmed a Nova Scotia senior who drove his car off the Englishtown Ferry died from drowning.

The family of Jerry Hengeveld released the information Wednesday, saying no other medical problems were discovered in the autopsy.

The 81-year-old Waterville man was last seen by his family on March 24.

The following day, Hengeveld was spotted filling up his 2007 silver Toyota Camry at a gas station in Baddeck.

Less than four hours later, a car drove from a dock onto the Englishtown Ferry and picked up speed before plunging off the end of an upright ramp.

The car landed in the water, about 20 to 30 metres from shore, and was last seen about 200 metres from where it entered St. Anns Bay before sinking.

Divers spent several days scouring St. Anns Bay for the missing vehicle.

Searchers eventually located the car, roughly 200 feet from the Englishtown Shore, using a side-scan sonar device on April 2.

A fishing boat was used to pull the car closer to shore. Divers then removed Hengeveld’s body from the vehicle and lifted it into a boat.

Last month, the Nova Scotia government said an internal review showed there were no safety issues with the Englishtown ferry.

Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal Minister Maurice Smith said ferry workers followed all boarding and emergency protocols the night of the incident, and there was no damage to the vessel or mechanical issues.

Hengeveld’s son-in-law says there may never be a clear explanation of what happened that night, except that his father-in-law may have been tired and confused when he drove onto the ferry.