...
Women trust GPS, drive SUV into Mercer Slough
Three women from out of the country drove into the Mercer Slough in Bellevue early Wednesday while trying to follow the directions from their GPS.
By Seattle Times staff
Three women from out of the country drove their car into Mercer Slough in Bellevue early Wednesday while trying to follow directions from their GPS.
The women, from Mexico, told police they had been following the device about midnight but obviously took a wrong turn.
The women went into the water with the rental car but were able to get out safely, said Carla Iafrate, spokeswoman for the Bellevue Police Department.
The three, who primarily speak Spanish and needed an interpreter to explain to police what happened, called 911 to say their car was floating, Iafrate said.
"They said something about being in a jungle."
The women, all in their 30s, were driving back to the Embassy Suites in Bellevue's Eastgate neighborhood when they went west on Interstate 90 instead of east. They made a turn off Bellevue Way and drove down a boat ramp right into the water, Iafrate said. "It's totally submerged," she said. "All you can see is the top rack on the car."
No one was injured, but the car, a Mercedes SUV, went far out into the slough. The water was so deep that a tow truck was unable to pull it out.
She said the women were in town for a Costco convention.
Women trust GPS, drive SUV into Mercer Slough
Three women from out of the country drove into the Mercer Slough in Bellevue early Wednesday while trying to follow the directions from their GPS.
By Seattle Times staff
Three women from out of the country drove their car into Mercer Slough in Bellevue early Wednesday while trying to follow directions from their GPS.
The women, from Mexico, told police they had been following the device about midnight but obviously took a wrong turn.
The women went into the water with the rental car but were able to get out safely, said Carla Iafrate, spokeswoman for the Bellevue Police Department.
The three, who primarily speak Spanish and needed an interpreter to explain to police what happened, called 911 to say their car was floating, Iafrate said.
"They said something about being in a jungle."
The women, all in their 30s, were driving back to the Embassy Suites in Bellevue's Eastgate neighborhood when they went west on Interstate 90 instead of east. They made a turn off Bellevue Way and drove down a boat ramp right into the water, Iafrate said. "It's totally submerged," she said. "All you can see is the top rack on the car."
No one was injured, but the car, a Mercedes SUV, went far out into the slough. The water was so deep that a tow truck was unable to pull it out.
She said the women were in town for a Costco convention.
