White’s Ferry reopens after car driven into water

A car is pulled out of the water at White's Ferry on Friday morning, Sept. 30, 2016. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
A car is pulled out of the water at White’s Ferry on Friday morning, Sept. 30, 2016. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
(WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
Police divers recover a car out of the water at Whites Ferry. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
A tow crew recovers a car out of the water at White’s Ferry. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
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A car is pulled out of the water at White's Ferry on Friday morning, Sept. 30, 2016. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)
Police divers recover a car out of the water at Whites Ferry. (WTOP/Neal Augenstein)

WASHINGTON — White’s Ferry, in Dickerson, Maryland, was closed for nearly three hours Friday morning because of a car that had been driven into the water.

The Montgomery County police say that a man drove through the gate and onto the ferry, then off the ferry and into the water, at about 1:30 a.m. Friday.

The car was pulled out of the water at about 7:40, and the ferry reopened a few minutes later.

Ferry captain Josh Webster said he was watching TV and making pizza in his apartment, over the White’s Ferry Store and Grill, when he heard screams and saw the car and driver already in the water. Webster said the water wasn’t over the driver’s head, but Webster walked into the water wearing khakis and flip-flops to rescue him, then called 911.

The police haven’t identified the driver, but say he’s been charged with driving while intoxicated.

WTOP’s Neal Augenstein contributed to this report.

Rick Massimo

Rick Massimo came to WTOP, and to Washington, in 2013 after having lived in Providence, R.I., since he was a child. He's the author of "A Walking Tour of the Georgetown Set" and "I Got a Song: A History of the Newport Folk Festival."

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