As Halton Region police continue to search for answers on why a vehicle plunged into Lake Ontario from Burlington’s La Salle Park on Tuesday, a family member has identifed the couple killed in the crash.

David Black was 55 years old and his wife Natalie was 51. A family member posted a story of their deaths on social media with the message “Rest in Peace, til we meet again.”

News of the tragedy has left people who knew them in shock.

“She was a great person, so was her husband,” said Sheila McKee, the couple’s neighbour.

“I was talking to her that night, a couple hours before it happened. I didn’t know she was going there that night or anything. We were just talking about things that were going on in our lives and her work and things like that.”

Jordan Vanstaveren, who lived across the street from the Blacks for the past year says he only knew them in passing, but says they were nice people and great neighbours.

Sgt. Ryan Anderson, Halton police media relations officer, said Wednesday that investigators are looking into whether the driver had a medical episode.

Overnight recovery efforts — which included help from the Peel Region police diving team — found the Burlington couple.

At about 8 p.m. Halton police received reports that a navy blue sedan had driven into Lake Ontario, with initial information that there were several occupants inside. Police have since reported that they are not looking for other victims.

Efforts by witnesses, police, firefighters and paramedics were unsuccessful in rescuing the occupants.

“This is devastating news for our city,” tweeted Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward.

“Thank you to @Haltonpolice and emergency responders for working quickly in their recovery efforts as we await more details on what happened.”

The Halton police collision reconstruction unit has taken over this investigation and any witnesses who have yet to speak with police are asked to contact them at 905-825-4747, ext. 5065.

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DL David Lea is a general assignment reporter for InsideHalton.com and its sister papers. Reach him via email: dlea@metroland.com

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