A Massachusetts driver says he deliberately steered into a neighbor’s swimming pool after his brakes failed on a steep driveway. His other immediate option appeared to be the house, forcing him to make a split-second decision.
The crash happened at approximately 1:50 p.m. Monday, Aug. 17, at a home on Franklin Circle in Northborough. Police said the sedan broke through a fence before entering the backyard pool.
Driver Nick Mascetta told Boston 25 News that he had been dropping off packages for a neighbor who was away. As his 2019 Hyundai Elantra rolled downhill, he said he could not stop it and had only moments to decide where it would go.
Mascetta turned toward the pool. The Hyundai entered the water and became completely submerged, but he escaped without assistance. Police said no injuries were reported.
The Hyundai Disappeared Beneath the Water
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Northborough police said their investigation determined that the brakes failed while the car was on the driveway. The driver avoided the house before crashing through the fence.
The Driver Escaped Through a Window
Mascetta told Boston 25 News that he climbed through a window and swam to safety. He described the decision as a choice between the home and the pool. The water provided a softer landing, although it left the Hyundai completely underwater.
The homeowner, identified by the station only as Jan, was working inside when she heard the commotion. Her son came downstairs and told her that a car was in the pool.
A Crane Came To Help
A recovery crew used a crane to lift the Hyundai from the pool later Monday. The official police account did not announce any citations or charges. It confirmed that the driver exited independently and that no one was hurt.
Mascetta told reporters he was grateful that the failure happened on a driveway rather than while he was traveling on nearby Interstate 290.