A 20-year-old was arrested in Cape Coral for DUI and hit-and-run after crashing into a canal in Cape Coral, leaving $5,000 worth of damage.
Cape Coral Police got a call saying a gray car was found floating in a canal between SE 15th Terrace and SE 16th Street on Feb. 2.
Ivan Janowsky saw the whole thing happen while sitting on his patio.
"I heard a noise," Janowsky said. "Next thing I know, there was a car that just kind of jumped over the wall. There's a little dip, and it went in the air and went in the water and then started floating up the canal."
He said his neighbor across the canal called 911 and about 20 CCPD officers arrived with divers. CCPD said as they began investigating, they couldn't find anyone inside the car.
"It was interesting for four hours," Janowsky said. "The divers and everybody were here for two, and then they left."
What police didn't know at the time was that 20-year-old Joshuanna Silva Vega was inside the car at the time of the crash.
CCPD said they found her along SE 16th Street in distress. Police said she lied, saying she was carjacked by a man along SE 25th Avenue.
"She had already gotten out and was looking for somebody to let her in the house on this side," Janowsky said. "She went neighbor to neighbor trying to find somebody to let her in."
Later, she admitted to driving into the canal after police noticed her shoes were wet.
CCPD said Silva Vega told them she lied for fear of her immigration status. Police said she had a strong smell of alcohol and slurred speech.
"I understand she was a little bit under the influence, so you have to be 21 in order to drink. She was 20."