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CAPE ST. MARYS, N.S. —

Those who took part in a stunt that involved sending a vehicle flying off of the Cape St. Marys wharf can be seen giving a thumbs-up and heard laughing and celebrating after a person emerges from the submerged vehicle in a video that was posted on Facebook.

But at the Digby County wharf itself on Sunday morning, March 1, nobody was in a laughing mood.

RCMP were on scene as their investigation into the matter continued. A dive crew, boom truck and tow truck were on hand as the vehicle had to be hoisted from the water. There were conservation officers present, as the Environment Department needs to evaluate the situation. And other agencies, such as the federal Department of Fisheries, may also be involved.

A vehicle is hoisted from the Cape St. Mary's wharf in southwestern Nova Scotia on Sunday, March 1, after it was sent plunging into the water in an apparent prank. A video of the incident was posted on Facebook. - Tina Comeau

And on Facebook. where the video was posted, most people were condemning the act, calling it stupid, dangerous and a potential threat to the environment due to the risk of fuel and oil leaking into the water. Many said it was fortunate no one was seriously injured, or worse.

“That could have been a disaster. Where is the common sense?” commented one person as the video was viewed by thousands and widely shared.

The incident took place Saturday, Feb. 29. On the video a vehicle is seen on the wharf as people standing by shout out, “The car’s gonna fly! Watch out!” and “He’s gonna slam.” A direction is given for everyone to give a thumbs up in unison when the vehicle is ready to take off.

The car revs up and at a fast rate of speed crashes through the wooden piles on the wharf, landing on its roof in the water before submerging.

As the car sinks from view a person on the wharf can be heard saying, “Now. Now buddy,” presumably meaning for the person inside the car to emerge.

A few seconds after the vehicle sinks and can no longer be seen, a person wearing a helmet emerges from the water. Those on the wharf can be heard cheering before the video ends.

RCMP Cpl. Lisa Croteau said the matter is under investigation.

“The investigation is still ongoing,” she said early Sunday afternoon, saying at that time no charges had been laid. “It’s ongoing.” The RCMP said the vehicle was a Ford Focus.

“As for repercussions, there are a lot of departments that are going to be involved due to the location of where this incident happened," Croteau added. "I can’t really speak to what that will entail at this time.”

There was damage to the wharf that needs to be assessed.

"Fisheries and Oceans Canada is currently determining the extent of damage to the wharf structure in Cape St. Mary’s," DFO communications spokesperson Debbie Buott-Matheson said on Monday morning. "Any further questions regarding this incident should be directed to RCMP."



A vehicle is hoisted from the water at the Cape St. Marys wharf in southwestern Nova Scotia on Sunday, March 1. A video was posted on Facebook showing someone driving the vehicle off the wharf and others celebrating when the person emerges from the sinking car. - Tina Comeau

The Cape St. Marys wharf is located in a small fishing community, a short distance from Mavillette Beach Provincial Park. It is about 35 kilometres from Yarmouth. The road to and surrounding the wharf was very busy Sunday as people came out to see what was happening.

Cpl. Dan Allain of the RCMP's underwater recovery team supervised the diving aspect of the recovery of the vehicle on Sunday. He was brought in from his base of operation in New Brunswick. There were also Nova Scotia divers on the team.

Although in the social media video, a person is seen emerging from the vehicle and there were no reports of anyone else being in the vehicle or in the water, Allain said when divers first arrived on the scene, they still had to verify no one else was in the car.

“We just searched the area around the vehicle and in the vehicle to make sure nobody in there,” he said.

Divers with the RCMP's underwater recovery team work at the scene of the Cape St. Marys wharf on Sunday, March 1. - Tina Comeau

Allain said the car was upside down underwater. He said from the wharf above, you could see that fuel or oil had leaked from the vehicle.

“We had to hook up the vehicle, put the chains on,” he said, and then the OK was given to the truck operator to start lifting the vehicle. It took two attempts the get the car out of the water. “Something broke on the vehicle the first time,” Allain said.

It was a slow, meticulous process as the vehicle was finally raised.

RCMP said they will be releasing more details about the investigation. Those updates will be shared when they are available.

A lot of resources were deployed to the scene. - Tina Comeau

As for the video, while it was being shared on Facebook, comments from the public included:

“Just glad no one died because of stupid choices.”

“Imagine the damage they did to the wharf.”

“Not to mention all of the chemicals like gas, oil, antifreeze and washer fluid is now in the water.”

“Can’t believe how stupid some people are.”

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