A 22-year-old man is in trouble after his car plunged into St. John's Harbour behind Atlantic Place Monday afternoon.

The man was driving while suspended and owed $10,000 in fines, according to the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary.

After a short stay in hospital, he was arrested and taken to St. John's city lock-up for overnight, until an appearance before a judge on Tuesday morning.

The car was travelling east on the harbour apron when it struck a piece of the red wooden barrier and slipped into the harbour.

Jason Gosse was walking by when the accident happened. He didn't see the car driving around, but he heard the crash and immediately called 911.

"I saw a car partially submerged. The guy tried to get out through one side, he couldn't get out through the drivers side, so he went over to the passenger side and he was able to get out," Gosse said.

"Just after he got out he was clinging to the car for a couple of seconds, but the car went down and pulled him under. Then he came back up and swam over to the wharf."

The car traveled about 9 metres before it hit the water.

A boom truck recovered the vehicle Monday afternoon.