SEMINOLE COUNTY, FL — A woman was arrested after the car she was driving went into a lake during a Saturday night crash in Seminole County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol and the Seminole County Fire Department.
First responders said the driver was able to get out of the vehicle and swim to safety before being taken to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Investigators later identified her as 26-year-old Qualana Pickard and said she was accused of DUI and damage to property.
Crews were called to the scene around 8:32 p.m. and found the vehicle in the water near Maitland Avenue and Lake Shore Drive. The Toyota Corolla was still being removed from the lake about an hour later.
Troopers say the Toyota left the roadway before striking a guardrail and fence
Florida Highway Patrol said the 2022 Toyota Corolla was traveling southbound on Maitland Avenue and approaching Lake Shore Drive when it ran off the right side of the road for an unknown reason.
The vehicle then struck a guardrail and a fence before continuing into the lake. FHP has not said what caused the car to leave the roadway.
Because the crash involved the car entering the water, crews worked to pull it out while the area remained active with first responders. A roadblock was in place while the Toyota was being recovered.
Fire crews say the driver got out quickly and avoided major harm
A Seminole County Fire Department spokesperson said crews reached the scene quickly and did not face major problems getting the driver out. The agency said the response moved fast and there were no significant issues during the rescue.
The fire department also said it was not immediately clear what condition the vehicle was in or exactly where it was after the crash because the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office was on scene. That response reflects how multiple agencies coordinated at the site while the vehicle remained in the water.
Officials said Pickard was the only person inside the Toyota. No other injuries were reported.
The crash shut down part of the area while the lake recovery continued
By about 9:30 p.m., the Toyota Corolla was still being taken out of the lake, according to first responders. The recovery effort kept the scene active well after the initial crash response.
The roadblock affected traffic near Maitland Avenue and Lake Shore Drive while crews worked. WESH 2 News had a crew at the scene as responders managed the removal.
Authorities have not said whether the vehicle was fully recovered at the time or what further steps were needed once it was pulled from the water.
Seminole County deputies arrested Pickard after hospital treatment
After being taken to the hospital for minor injuries, Pickard was arrested by the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, according to Florida Highway Patrol. She was accused of driving under the influence and damaging property.
Her arrest came after she was able to swim away from the vehicle on her own, officials said. The case remains part of an active investigation by FHP.
Authorities have not released additional details about possible charges beyond the DUI and property damage accusations.
Florida Highway Patrol continues to investigate the cause of the crash
Florida Highway Patrol said the investigation is ongoing. Troopers have not yet explained why the Toyota ran off the road or whether any other factors contributed to the crash.
The collision ended with the vehicle in a lake, a driver in the hospital, and an arrest on DUI and property damage accusations. For now, the case centers on the brief but serious sequence that unfolded near Maitland Avenue and Lake Shore Drive Saturday evening.
Officials have not announced any additional findings, and no further details were immediately available about the condition of the car after it was removed from the water.
