Driver found in submerged Tampa car identified by deputies

TAMPA — The driver found in a submerged car discovered March 15 has been identified by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

Gustavo Bonifacio De La Cruz, 24, was driving the white 1999 Honda Accord that was found in the pond at the end of W Prince Street, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, just south of the intersection of N Florida Avenue and Fletcher Avenue.

Deputies say De La Cruz turned off N Florida Avenue and was driving west on W Prince Street at about 3:41 a.m. He ended up driving through a local gate at the end of the street and crashed into the pond, deputies say.

The car was discovered hours later when a neighbor saw the Honda's back end in the water and called 911. The sheriff's dive team was sent to the scene and removed De La Cruz from the submerged car.

Alcohol is suspected to be a factor in this case, deputies say. They also tracked down surveillance footage of the car, but did not release that footage.