autos

BMW driver smashes through barriers and drives car into a river – Metro.co.uk


The BMW EV sits submerged in the River Hiz in Hitchin (Picture: Casey Gutteridge/SWNS)
The BMW EV sits submerged in the River Hiz in Hitchin (Picture: Casey Gutteridge/SWNS)

A BMW driver had a lucky escape after accidentally driving through a barrier and into a river.

The £63,000 EV (electric vehicle) plunged into the River Hiz in Hitchin Town Centre, Hertfordshire yesterday.

Despite the SUV becoming almost fully submerged, the female driver reportedly managed to get out unharmed.

It’s believed she thought the EV was in park mode and accidently hit the accelerator, which sent the car through the barrier and into the water.

According to eyewitnesses, the BMW IX3 had been parked at Portmill Lane West Car Park, which sits near the river.

Witness Casey Gutterridge, 32, said: ‘The only thing I heard was someone say the woman hadn’t had the car for too long.

‘One minute she was in the car and the next minute she was in the water.

The electric BMW which ended up underwater after a parking mishap in Hitchin town centre, Photo released February 25 2024. See SWNS story SWNAriver. A BMW driver was left counting the cost after they accidentally smashed their ?63,000 electric vehicle through safety barriers - and plunged into a river. Residents in Hitchin town centre, Herts, were left stunned when the two-tonne SUV took a wrong turn and landed in the River Hiz yesterday (Sat). Eyewitnesses said the BMW IX3 electric SUV was parked up at the Portmill Lane West Car Park before crashing through the railings along the waterway. Despite the car becoming almost fully submerged, it is believed the driver got out unharmed.
Emergency services were at the scene (Picture: Casey Gutteridge/SWNS)

‘With electric cars you don’t know it’s running sometimes. I think she’s not had the car long and then this happened.

‘We were driving past and we saw loads of sirens. We parked up and within a minute or two saw a car in the water.

‘There were two traffic wardens looking in the distance which was quite funny.

‘By the looks of it was taken out around three or four hours later. I imagine because it’s electric they have to make sure it’s fine.

The electric BMW which ended up underwater after a parking mishap in Hitchin town centre, Photo released February 25 2024. See SWNS story SWNAriver. A BMW driver was left counting the cost after they accidentally smashed their ?63,000 electric vehicle through safety barriers - and plunged into a river. Residents in Hitchin town centre, Herts, were left stunned when the two-tonne SUV took a wrong turn and landed in the River Hiz yesterday (Sat). Eyewitnesses said the BMW IX3 electric SUV was parked up at the Portmill Lane West Car Park before crashing through the railings along the waterway. Despite the car becoming almost fully submerged, it is believed the driver got out unharmed.
The car had been lifted out by 7pm last night (Picture: Casey Gutteridge/SWNS)

‘It’s really lucky that no one was hurt. A lot of families use that pathway along the river.’

Hertfordshire Police and Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service attended the scene and the vehicle was lifted and placed on a recovery truck just before 7pm.

In similar circumstances, a man in Norway thought his Tesla was in park mode earlier this month and accidently drove it into a freezing fjord.

Thankfully, and rather unusually, he and the passenger were rescued by a floating sauna.


MORE : Brentford can ensure West Ham stay winless in 2024


MORE : ‘Britain’s worst landlord’ leaves £41m mega-mansion to rot


MORE : Girl, 16, killed and 15-year-old boy seriously injured in car crash



READ SOURCE

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you accept our use of cookies.