Man Who Drove Car Into Raritan River Dies

An elderly New Jersey man who accidentally drove his car into the Raritan River this week has died from his injuries.

Bridgewater police say 80-year-old Dominic Ciurelo of Somerville apparently was attempting a U-turn on a narrow road along the river when his car went in the water and landed upside down around 10:40 a.m. Monday.

A passer-by saw the vehicle go over the riverbank and notified police. Divers from the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office soon responded and pulled Ciurelo from the vehicle, which was submerged in about 5 to 6 feet of water.

Ciurelo was taken to a hospital, where he died several hours later. Authorities said Tuesday that the cause of death was cardiac arrest due to near drowning.

Authorities say the accident remains under investigation.

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