With hundreds of shocked spectators looking on, emergency crews pulled the bodies of a New Mexico couple out of their submerged car Sunday at the Great Salt Lake State Park.
The man and the woman, both in their mid-20s, apparently died several hours before their car was spotted in the murky water of a tidal basin at the old Saltair Resort, according to Salt Lake County Chief Deputy Sheriff Mike Wilkinson.The bodies were sent to the medical examiner, who was making efforts to identify them Monday.
Wilkinson said the car was traveling west on alternate Route 201 (2100 South), left the road where it ends in a "T" intersection at the entrance to Saltair and rolled down a steep embankment. The car flipped over and sank into about 5 feet of water, leaving only its rear wheels in view.
"The initial outlook is the vehicle may have been going too fast to negotiate the turn," said Salt Lake County Deputy Sheriff Jim Potter. Investigators believe the accident might have occurred early Sunday or even Saturday night.
Despite the large crowds at the beach Sunday morning, no one noticed the car until about 3 p.m., when two boys saw the tires sticking out of the water and informed their father.
"I couldn't believe it," said Gene Allen, whose sons, David and Devin, spotted the car. "We ran over to it and I jumped in. I opened the door - the car really jerked when I did that - and reached in."
He said he felt a body inside, but he was unable to pull the person out. "I could tell they were dead; that's when I shouted for someone to call the sheriff."
Deputy Steve Winter, one of the first law officers on the scene, said he had to cut through a seatbelt to remove one of the victims. After both victims were pulled ashore, search and rescue divers scoured the basin for additional bodies.
"It's a precaution," Wilkinson said, explaining that there was no indication that anyone else had been in the car.
Divers and crews in boats checked the water again after the vehicle, a compact Ford hatchback, was towed out of the basin. The accident is under investigation, Wilkinson said.