Driver escapes after SUV plunges into Detroit River at Windsor marina

SUV being pulled out of the water at the at Lakeview Marina in Windsor, Ont., on Monday, July 21, 2025. (Source: Unofficial On Location/Facebook)

A man has been charged with careless driving — but is lucky to be alive — after accidentally launching his SUV into the Detroit River at Lakeview Park Marina.

Windsor police say it happened around 9:30 p.m. Monday, when the man hit the gas instead of the brake while trying to park near the water.

The vehicle sped over the breakwall and plunged into the marina.

There were no injuries and no signs of impairment.

Officers say it was simply driver error.

The man was able to escape through a partially open passenger-side window before the SUV was fully submerged.

“It would be very scary to be there,” said Peter Barry, harbor master with the Windsor Port Authority.

“So he’s very lucky he was able to slide out the window when he did. And he’s still here to talk to us.”

Barry was called to the scene shortly after the crash — tasked with monitoring the water for possible pollutants.

Another man who was there told CTV News he thought he heard something at the time — but didn’t think much of it.

“I hear maybe a splash in the distance. Didn’t think nothing to it,” said William Pigeon, who was on a boat docked nearby.

“Then I hear some people yelling and there’s fire trucks showing up.”

Once pictures of the scene hit social media, a crowd gathered to watch crews recover the sunken SUV.

A crane was brought in and the vehicle was pulled out of the water shortly after 11 p.m.

Virgin Radio host Jonny Parks stopped by the scene and saw the recovery effort first-hand.

“When they pulled it out and they flipped the car over, I guess whoever owned the car went in and they were looking to see what they could salvage,” he said.

“And it looks like the guy got his wallet out of there, which is at least a little bit of saving grace.”

Barry says the vehicle is a total loss.

“It’s definitely going to be a full write-off, being it was fully submerged for several hours,” he said.

The driver was issued a ticket for careless driving — and a reminder Barry hopes others will take to heart.

“You have to stay aware,” he said.

“We had a good outcome in the fact that the man was able to walk away. Scared? Yes. Cold? Yes. But still alive. And that’s the most important thing out of this accident.”

Barry cautioned: “When you’re parking around water, you’ve got to be 100 per cent certain of your vehicle — because most times there’s no coming back from this.”