The 19-year-old driver who crashed through the iconic balustrade along Bayshore Boulevard and plunged 25 yards into Hillsborough Bay remains in critical condition at Tampa General Hospital.
According to Tampa Police officials, Michael Agana, 19, of Tampa, was pulled unconscious from his submerged 2001 Toyota Camry by a Tampa police diver. Three Good Samaritans initially jumped in to help Agana, but were unable to get him out of the car.
Agana did not have a pulse when he was taken from the car, but emergency crews were able to revive him on the way to the hospital.
Police said Agana, who was the only person in the car, was traveling south on South Boulevard at a high rate of speed just before 8 p.m. The car crossed Bayshore Boulevard, crashed into the wall and jumped about 25 yards into the water.
Several witnesses jumped in to try and free the the driver, but they were unsuccessful. The Tampa police diver arrived within minutes and made the rescue.
Police have not given an estimate on just how fast the car was going or said whether they believe Agana was impaired. Agana's car was going at a high enough speed to crash through the wall and land 25 yards out into the water, according to officials.
With high vehicle and pedestrian traffic along the road, many are surprised no one in the area was injured. "Yeah, somebody was lucky, alright," local resident Rick Woods said. "I mean, people are always walking or riding their bikes here, and the fact he (the driver) didn't hit a car crossing (Bayshore) was amazing, too."
Just last week, Bay News 9 reported that a woman who lives on Bayshore Boulevard is trying to get the speed limit in the area reduced because there are so many speeders. She asked the Tampa City Council to create a task force, and that's in the works.
Authorities originally reported the driver as 30-year-old man.