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Driver Fleeing Police Plunges Into Pond, Killing Himself, Two Passengers

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ST. PETERSBURG (CBSMiami/AP) — Three people have died following a police pursuit that ended with an alleged stolen car plunging into a pond.

Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said the driver apparently missed a sharp turn near a cemetery and went into the water near St. Petersburg early Thursday, with two passengers inside.

Gualtieri says a deputy spotted the car driving without headlights and tried to stop it. The driver fled, eventually running a red light.

The sheriff says the pond's water was so murky that police could not find the car. He said the vehicle was like a "death chamber," with its windows rolled up and doors closed. Divers later found it in 15 feet of water.

Police aren't releasing the names of the driver or passengers until they notify their families.

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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