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Calif. woman injured after driving car into sea

The fire department’s surf-rescue and cliff-rescue teams removed the woman, whose injuries were not considered life-threatening

By Chris De Benedetti
San Jose Mercury News

SAN FRANCISCO — A woman who drove her vehicle into the water at Ocean Beach on Friday morning was treated for minor injuries at San Francisco General Hospital, authorities said.

More than 20 firefighters responded to a 6:24 a.m. call and discovered the woman in the car, which was partly underwater, a San Francisco fire official said.

The fire department’s surf-rescue and cliff-rescue teams removed the woman, whose injuries were not considered life-threatening, Capt. Jeanne Seyler said.

The woman, whose name was not released, drove a 1993 black Lexus onto the sand from a ramp at the intersection of Lincoln Way and the Great Highway, which runs parallel to the beach. She drove more than 300 feet on the sand before becoming submerged in the water, fire officials said.

Authorities are not sure why she drove into the ocean or whether drugs or alcohol played a role.

Patrol officers of Golden Gate National Recreation Area planned to retrieve the vehicle during the next low tide, which began about 6 p.m., Seyler said.

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