MARTIN COUNTY — John Vaught was taking his daughter to school Monday morning when he heard screeching tires and saw a man drive his car into the pond near Vaught's home.

Immediately, Vaught, 54, called 911.

"The car's going across the pond, and the gentleman is opening the door and getting out of the car and he's hanging onto the side of the car," he said. "I ask him if there's anyone else inside over and over and over again, and he never responds to me."

Christopher Shaw, 28, of the 4000 block of Southeast Peppertree Street in Stuart, is accused of steering his black car into the pond near the 90 block of Southeast Taho Terrace while he was intoxicated.

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Deputies said around 7 a.m. they received a call about Shaw's car submerging into a pond and Shaw swimming to the side of the car.

When deputies arrived, they said Shaw was incoherent and his eyes were dilated.

Shaw was taken to Cleveland Clinic Martin South Hospital, where deputies said he refused a blood test. Deputies said hospital officials told them Shaw had taken unknown drugs.

The hospital released Shaw without injuries, and he was taken to the Martin County Jail and charged with driving under the influence.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Shaw remained in jail without bail.

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