A WOMAN who jumped out of her car after a spider crawled on to her lap on Saturday could do nothing but watch as her car rolled into the water.

The 18-year-old had just pulled up at the Bayview boat ramp in Rowland Reserve when the large huntsman dropped in just after 7am.

media_camera The car being towed from the water. Photo Stuart Cooper

Witnesses said she leapt out of the car “and started doing a spider dance” as her car edged towards the water.

Stuart Cooper, who was standing 50m away, said the woman appeared to be in shock.

“Her mum arrived about 15 minutes later and was freaking out because she thought her daughter was in the car,” the Avalon local said.

“She was relieved when she saw her daughter sitting on the side of the boat ramp in tears. She went up and gave her a huge hug.

“She also gave me a huge hug — I’m not sure why — and then told her daughter that she didn’t care about the car, only that she was OK.”

By the time police divers arrived, the car had sunk.

The vehicle was 25m from the beach and had to be towed back in.