Woman drives car into Ellis Lake

A wayward car ran into Ellis Lake in Marysville Sunday afternoon and its occupant was taken to the hospital.

The Kia Forte driven by an unidentified woman was headed north on D Street when it ran off the north side of 14th Street into the lake at about 4:15 p.m., according to Brad Hudson of the Marysville Fire Department.

As the first bystanders arrived, the rear end of the car could be seen above the water line, but it slipped below the surface.

"The doors were locked and wouldn't open," said Rory Jeffries, 25, of Yuba City, who with his friend Greg Reasons waded into the water to check on the driver. "Do we go in there? Nobody knew if anyone was in the car. Nobody knew what was going on. I hope she's all right, man. She was in there a long time."

Ellis Lake is about 15 feet deep where the Kia ran off the road, Hudson said.

The woman was extracted by firefighters and taken by ambulance to Rideout Memorial Hospital. She was the only occupant of the vehicle, said Hudson. Her condition was not immediately known.

For more details, check back online or read Monday's Appeal-Democrat. Contact reporter Howard Yune at 749-4708 or hyune@appealdemocrat.com.