Vehicle runs off George Washington Parkway, lands in Potomac River

Emergency personnel try to save a motorist whose car ventured into the Potomac River. (Photo Courtesy John Galie)
Here, a diver tries to save a motorist whose car went into the Potomac River on Sunday. (Photo Courtesy John Gaile)
A car crashed into the Potomac River on Sunday. (Photo Courtesy John Gaile)
Here, emergency personnel try to save a driver whose car went into the Potomac River. (Photo Courtesy John Gaile)
A vehicle and a "single occupant" have been pulled from the Potomac River after a crash that blocked the northbound lanes of the George Washington Parkway.
Authorities are still trying to determine how a vehicle crashed into the Potomac River from the George Washington Parkway.
John Gaile, a tourist from New Jersey, saw the car crash into the water. They tried to save the driver.
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WASHINGTON — A person has died after their vehicle went into the Potomac River from the George Washington Parkway, according to U.S. Park Police.

The parkway’s northbound lanes, near the Humpback Bridge in Arlington, had been blocked due to a water rescue.

It is still unclear how the person’s car left the roadway, but witness John Gaile offers his take. “I started taking some photos of it as it was going down,” Gaile tells WTOP. “Within about a minute, it went 90 degrees and completely submerged. I did not see anybody come up.”

Gaile says people from a nearby boat jumped into the water and tried to help, but “couldn’t find the car.”

Police helicopters and emergency vehicles arrived: “I don’t know if they rescued anybody or not.”

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