BOCA RATON – Boca Raton Fire Rescue crews responded about 5:45 a.m. Dec. 23 to a report of car in a canal, on its side against a sea wall, at 400 West Camino Gardens Blvd., said Public Information Officer Frank Correggio.
The black Dodge Charger was halfway submerged in the water with no occupants inside. Boca Raton Fire Rescue Services Battalion Chief Bruce Angier called for divers. Delray Beach Fire Rescue dive team along with Boca Raton Police Services divers entered the water to perform a search. Boca Raton Fire Rescue Boat 3 and Police Services Marine Units were on hand to assist.
After an extensive search the divers were unable to locate anyone in the canal. Tow trucks were called to remove the vehicle from the waterway.
A passenger who had been in the car told police he wasn’t sure if the driver was still inside. Several hours after the search ended, police found a man identified as Tyler Hanley, 19, of Boca Raton, on the lawn of a nearby home. Identified as the driver, Hanley was charged with leaving the scene of a crash and failing to give information and render aid, said police.
Correggio said the cause of the accident remains under investigation.