Car plunges into Lake Mendota, driver OK
A tipsy driver who told police "I must have taken a wrong turn" drove off the end of Lake Street and into Lake Mendota early Wednesday morning, but was able to swim to safety because his car window was rolled down, police said.
Jeremiah J. Hoefle, 20, Waunakee, was arrested and tentatively charged with operating while intoxicated, reckless driving and being an underaged person consuming alcohol, following the incident that happened about 1:47 a.m.
Madison police spokesman Joel DeSpain said responding officers found a maroon-colored Buick Century with its tail end sticking out of the waters of Lake Mendota and a guy dressed in a wet T-shirt and boxer shorts standing on dry land.
"He told the officer 'I did it, it's my fault,'" DeSpain said.
A witness was also at the scene, a motorcyclist who had to swerve to get out of the way of the car as it sped down Lake Street toward the water.
"The motorcyclist fell off his cycle when he swerved to avoid getting hit," DeSpain said. "The next thing he noticed was the car driving into the lake."
Hoefle told officers he had been at a party downtown.
"He said he turned onto a road and suddenly he was in the lake," DeSpain said.
Hoefle was able to swim to shore because he had the driver's side window rolled down.
He told officers there wasn't anyone else in the car, but the county marine and trail enforcement team was called in to dive to the car, just to make sure in fact no one else was in the car.
Nobody else was found inside the car, and Hoefle was not injured in the car plunge.
