The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office identified the victim in the car crash at the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf on Sunday as William Westerman, 65, of Scotts Valley.
Multiple emergency response agencies rushed to the wharf shortly before 10 a.m. on Sunday morning, following reports of a vehicle driving off the pier and into the ocean. Crews recovered the vehicle, a white Toyota Sienna, by the early afternoon. Crews also retrieved Westerman’s body along with a dog, which was alive and now with county animal control.
Westerman was transported to Dominican Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Sheriff’s office Sgt. Zach West told Lookout that the cause of death has not yet been determined.
Santa Cruz Police Department spokesperson Katie Lee confirmed to Lookout on Monday afternoon that rescue teams found only Westerman during their search, and that they did not find anyone else in the vehicle or water.
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