Wednesday March 16, 2005
AZUSA, Calif. (AP) The body of a motorist whose car plunged into the San Gabriel Reservoir over the weekend was recovered Wednesday from 130 feet of water, authorities said.

Divers brought up the man's body but due to darkness decided to leave his Toyota MR2 in the water until Thursday morning, said Sgt. David Barker of the Los Angeles County sheriff's station in San Dimas.

The name of the 23-year-old Arcadia man was not being immediately released, said Sgt. Craig Heller of the California Highway Patrol.

The driver missed a curve on San Gabriel Canyon Road on Saturday night and splashed into the reservoir, Heller said.

``He was passing cars on the wrong side of the road and lost control, went airborne'' and plunged 200 feet down an embankment, Heller said.

Over the weekend, sheriff's department divers tried to locate the car but were thwarted by murky water, which was covered by logs, brush and other debris washed in from recent rains, Heller said.

``They couldn't see two feet in front of them,'' Heller said. Sonar was ineffective until helicopters were brought in Wednesday and the wash from their rotors created clear pockets of water, Heller said.




(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)