A man died early Monday morning after divers rescued him from a car submerged in Fort Lauderdale’s New River, officials said.
Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue was called shortly after 2 a.m. about a car that drove into the New River near Southwest Fourth Avenue and the Avenue of the Arts drawbridge, spokesperson Frank Guzman said. The person who called 911 saw the car floating in the water, but when firefighters arrived it was no longer visible.
Fire rescue divers found the man inside the car and pulled him to the surface, Guzman said. They performed CPR as he was taken to Broward Health Medical Center.
Fort Lauderdale Police Sgt. David Soika said in an email the man was pronounced dead at the hospital. He was identified as Brandon Simpson, 28. Soika did not provide his hometown.
The police department’s divers found and recovered the car Monday morning. Soika said Simpson was the only person inside the car.
Homicide detectives are investigating.