Police: Vero Beach man sinks dad’s BMW, then jumps from bridge for entertainment
June 23rd, 2009 by TCPalm.comVERO BEACH — A 25-year-old man rolled his father’s BMW into the Indian River Lagoon and then jumped 60 feet into the water from the Merrill Barber Bridge — all as a lark, police say.
Charges haven’t been filed in the 2:30 a.m. Monday incident. But George Peniston of the 100 block of Terrapin Point could face legal consequences, said police spokesman Officer John Morrison.
Jumping off a bridge could be considered disorderly conduct punishable by six months in jail.
And submerging the car at the city’s MacWilliam Park boat ramp could violate state anti-pollution laws, the spokesman said.
When interviewed by police, the man did not appear to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Also, Peniston did not want to hurt himself, according to police reports.
He just said, “He placed the vehicle (a 2006 silver BMW) in drive and intentionally let it roll into the Indian River” near a boat ramp at the park, reports show.
Then, “He thought it would be fun to jump off the bridge and was only doing it for his own entertainment.”
After jumping from the bridge, fishermen on a pier under the east end of the bridge saw someone swimming and yelling for help.
One of the fisherman, George Lewis, jumped in to aid Peniston as people called authorities. County Emergency Medical Services personnel pulled the two from the waters and took Peniston to Indian River Medical Center.
While at the medical center, Peniston’s parents, Eric and Deborah, said their son told them he let the BMW roll into the river.
Later officers tried to press the man for further details. He asked for an attorney and stopped talking.
On Monday morning the car was pulled from the water.
By Elliott Jones
Tags: alcohol, attorney, author, beach, boat, boating, bridge, car, driving, drugs, emergency, father, fishermen, jail, man, medical, parents, police, saw, violations, violators, water
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June 23rd, 2009 at 10:25 am
Climb a tree and act like a nut
June 23rd, 2009 at 11:19 am
retard!
June 23rd, 2009 at 11:24 am
i sure dads insurance company going to pay for the car…not! parents sure did a bang up job raising him. Not!
June 23rd, 2009 at 12:48 pm
POLICE should arrest this fool — he not only destroyed property, but by his actions caused others to get involved in what might have become a life threatening situation. The fishermen attempting to rescue him after his calls for help were putting their own safety at risk in order to assist this man. County Emergency Medical Services personnel were called in for assistance- WHO pays for all this? Make this man PAY in more ways than one… then see if it’s all a lark to him!
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:37 pm
What ever happened to good old fashioned self-induced reckless endangerment (all part of growing up and selling a few wild oats)? I’m sure that somewhere down the line, maybe years from now, the family of the young man who sank the BMW, will get together and have a big laugh over this. The fisherman who swam out to him, will forgive him. The Enviormental Protection agency will fine the young man, and the hospital that treated him will tally up a nice long bill for sevices rendered. It sounds to me like this man is destined for a job in government service.
June 24th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
Son of Eric Peniston, lives in Johns Island.
Sure sounds like a lark…
Perhaps he got in an arguement with pops and
Drove his car, which dad paid for, into the river.
Only to regret that and try to end it all. Sounds more
Like a cry for attention/ help.
A lark would have been recorded and uploaded to
YouTube. Watch this kid parents!
June 29th, 2009 at 7:33 am
A$$HAT!
August 27th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
Prescription Drugs - Zyban…
VERO BEACH A 25-year-old man rolled his fathers BMW into the Indian River Lagoon and then jumped 60 [...]…