BMW driver ploughs £63,000 electric vehicle through safety barriers and into a freezing river before escaping unscathed

•  The vehicle plunged into the River Hiz, in Hertfordshire, yesterday

An electric BMW driver accidentally drove through safety barriers and plunged into a freezing cold river.

The £63,000 vehicle landed in the River Hiz, in Hitchin town centre, Hertfordshire, yesterday.

Despite the BMW IX3 electric SUV becoming almost fully submerged, it is believed the driver managed to get out unharmed. 

Eyewitnesses claim the vehicle was parked at Portmill Lane West Car Park before it suddenly crashed through the railings and into the water at speed. 

The accident is believed to have happened when the driver, said to be a middle-aged woman, thought her two-tonne car was in park mode and accidentally pressed the accelerator. 

Casey Gutterridge, 32, said: ‘The only thing I heard was someone say the woman hadn’t had the car for too long.

‘One minute she was in the car and the next minute she was in the water.

‘With electric cars you don’t know it’s running sometimes. I think she’s not had the car long and then this happened.

‘We were driving past and we saw loads of sirens. We parked up and within a minute or two saw a car in the water.

‘There were two traffic wardens looking in the distance which was quite funny.’

Ms Gutterridge added: ‘By the looks of it was taken out around three or four hours later. I imagine because it’s electric they have to make sure it’s fine.

‘It’s really lucky that no one was hurt. A lot of families use that pathway along the river.’

Hertfordshire Police and Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service attended the scene and the vehicle was lifted and placed on a recovery truck just before 7pm.

MailOnline has contacted Hertfordshire Police for a comment.