Police rescue man from partly underwater car in Newport’s Back Bay

Police rescued a man from a partially submerged car Monday night in Newport Beach’s Back Bay.

Officers found the car around 11:30 p.m. after a resident told police that he heard a crash and people yelling near Back Bay Drive and Shellmaker Road, police spokeswoman Jennifer Manzella said.

Authorities aren’t sure how the car ended up in the bay, but they don’t think any other vehicles were involved, she said.

The 19-year-old man who was driving and a 19-year-old female passenger climbed through an open window to escape the car, which had flipped over, Manzella said.

But another man still inside was in danger of slipping underwater as he struggled to free himself from his seat belt, according to police.

“His head was above the water line, but just barely,” Manzella said.

An officer jumped into the water with a knife, and either the man or a rescuer cut the seat belt, according to Manzella.

The man suffered minor injuries to his wrist during the struggle, police said.

No one else was hurt, though the situation easily could have ended with a death or major injuries, according to Manzella.

“Thankfully we ended up with nothing of the sort,” she said.