The $50,000 Corvette that got a little wet: Couple's RENTED luxury car ends up in the

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The $50,000 Corvette that got a little wet: Couple's RENTED luxury car ends up in the Pacific after beach joyride
By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 8:57 AM on 18th October 2010

What's worse than accidentally driving your own $50,000 Corvette into the ocean?

Letting a mysterious man whose name you don't know drive the $50,000 Corvette that you just rented into the ocean, of course.

That is what an American couple are claiming happened after police were called to Pacific Beach near San Diego on Thursday night.


Water logged: The $50,000 bright yellow Corvette had to be towed out of the water by police

There they were met with the bizarre sight of a brilliant yellow luxury car abandoned in the surf - as its occupants attempted to flee.

Witnesses reported seeing the bright yellow sports car doing doughnuts and spin-outs on the sand before getting stranded in the surf.

A 39-year-old man and his 36-year-old wife were detained and questioned before being sent to a local detox facility to sober up.

The couple, who were visiting the area, claimed that they had rented the vehicle from Hertz.

They said they drove to the West End Pub in Pacific Beach where they met and got talking to a mysterious man whose name they didn't know.

When they told the man about the Corvette he allegedly told them he had never driven one - and then asked if he could take it for a test drive.

Astonishingly, the couple agreed - and are presumably regretting it.

'They originally denied any knowledge or association with the car or how it got in the water,' said San Diego police Lt. Andra Brown. 'They eventually admitted that, yeah, they were in the car, passengers in the car.'

John Settles, who lives just above the beach and saw the car in the water, said, 'It was hilarious, I thought. Brand-new Corvette in the water; I saw a wave go over the hood, over the wind-shield and into the convertible.'

Police haven't been able to locate the suspected driver but if they are able to identify him, he may have to pay for the cost of the police, helicopter and fire department response.

The Corvette had to be towed from the water by police.