1 dead after car plunges off dock in Sausalito
Mar 17, 2026
One person died Monday after driving off a dock and into the water at the Sausalito Yacht Harbor.
Police are still investigating what led up to the deadly plunge.
Kenneth Kennedy from Marin City was in his car as the crash happened and did everything he could to help the victims.
“I heard
the tires squeal, there was a pause, they squealed again and then the car just kind of went straight over,” Kennedy said. “I wanted to jump in. I knew I couldn’t. I called 911.”
According to Sausalito police, they were called to the scene at around 2:30 p.m. for a car 10 feet underwater. Details on why the driver went through the dock and into the water are still unknown.
One passenger inside the car was able to get out, but the driver was stuck inside.
Bianca Vock Modell from Sausalito shared a video of divers with the Southern Marin Fire District going in the water.
“Splintering wood everywhere. It was just a big boom,” McDonnell said. “This was just out of nowhere. It exploded, literally.”
John Butler, a battalion chief at Southern Marin Fire, said it was very difficult to get the driver out of the car.
“We’re able to respond to it in southern Marin with a dive team,” Butler said. “We have highly trained, specialized equipment where we can deploy into the water and make these more technical rescues in a rapid manner as we saw today.”
The driver was sent to a hospital but died from their injuries. They have yet to be identified.
One firefighter was also hurt during Monday afternoon’s rescue but is expected to be OK.
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