Stockton, CA – On the night of Wednesday, May 14, 2025, a vehicle plunged into the water off West Eight Mile Road, resulting in a fatality, according to CHP Fatal.
The California Highway Patrol reports that the accident occurred around 11:20 PM near the boat launch ramp at Empire Tract. A vehicle failed to stop and drove straight down the ramp into the water, where it became fully submerged.
Emergency responders from the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office and the local fire department arrived shortly after, but initial efforts could not locate the vehicle or the occupant. Dive teams were called to the scene, and aerial support was launched from Merced to assist in the search.
Authorities later spotted vehicle headlights approximately 60 feet from the dock, and recovery efforts continued through the early morning hours. Although recovery teams worked with medium-duty tow trucks and dive crews, they faced difficulties extracting the vehicle.
At least one fatality was confirmed. The identity of the victim has not yet been released, and the investigation into the cause of the crash remains ongoing.
Single-Vehicle Collisions
In some cases, investigations may reveal that even in a single-vehicle accident, nearby drivers or unsafe road features share some responsibility. California’s Comparative Negligence rule means that, even if those injured in accidents are found partially at fault, they may still be eligible to receive partial compensation for damages.
