Car plunges into the Hudson River in Verplanck, woman dead

Westchester police tell News 12 the driver of a car that became submerged in the Hudson River is dead.

Officials tell News 12 that witnesses saw a woman drive her car down a boat ramp in Verplanck just before 1 p.m.

The woman was believed to have been in her 30s.

Westchester County Police Capt. James Luciano says the small compact car was found 10 feet below the surface approximately 100 feet from the shore. The car was found with the help of several local police and fire departments.

"The tide was coming up almost at the pinnacle of the high tide, which would take any objects going north," Luciano said. "But the vehicle sunk to the bottom."

Luciano says that fire department divers went down and removed one victim from the car. They determined no other occupants were inside.

After nearly five hours under the surface, emergency crews were able to retrieve the car from the water. It appears all windows were rolled up.
 Police were not ready Friday evening to release the identity of the woman or further details.