Man Charged After Crashing His Jeep Into the Bay, Leaving the Car Underwater

A 21-year-old St. Petersburg man is facing multiple charges after he left his Jeep Liberty at the bottom of the South Pasadena marina, after crashing into the water while texting.

Marine deputies said they noticed an "oil-like substance" in the water near 6810 Gulfport Boulevard South in South Pasadena around 7 a.m. Saturday morning. Nearby, they noticed skid marks on the edge of the seawall leading toward the water, and a broken electronic box.

The discovery led them to uncover a bronze 2003 Jeep Liberty about 8 feet underwater in the Boca Ciega Bay, with no one inside. The car had a broken rear window, and the driver's window and back hatch were both open.

After running the car's registration, sheriff's deputies located the owner. It was determined that the owner's son, David Avery Hughes of St. Petersburg, had an accident around 4:30 a.m. in which he crashed the car into the water.

Hughes told the authorities he had been texting on his phone when he realized he had missed the turn for his condo complex, and accidentally turned into the marina instead. He skidded and crashed into the water. He was not injured, so he said he decided to walk home, leaving his car underwater.

Hughes is charged with texting while driving, careless driving, and leaving the scene of an accident involving property damage, a misdemeanor. Damage to the marina and electronic box is estimated at around $2,000.