Lancaster County, PA (July 31, 2026) – A woman was killed early on Thursday morning, July 30, after two cars went into the Susquehanna River in Manor Township. The call came in around 2:25 a.m., and the woman was found dead inside one of the vehicles, police said.
The vehicles had been traveling at a high speed on Charlestown Road before crossing the railroad tracks at Water Street and going into the river, according to Police Chief Colin Cleary. Cleary said racing was a possibility but stressed that the investigation was still in its early stages.
Investigators believe at least three people, one woman and two men, may have witnessed the wreck and left the area afterward, and police are hoping to identify them through surveillance video.
Police have also tried contacting the registered owners of both vehicles and reached out to nearby hospitals as part of the investigation.
The roadway was expected to reopen later Thursday morning. Our condolences go out to the woman’s family and loved ones.
What Should You Do If Your Car Goes Into Water?
When a vehicle ends up in a river or other body of water, the first moments are critical, since a car can begin sinking within seconds to minutes, depending on how it enters the water. Water pressure against the doors can make them extremely difficult to open once the vehicle is even partially submerged.
Experts generally recommend staying calm and acting quickly if a vehicle goes into water: unbuckling immediately, rolling down a window before electrical systems fail, and getting out through the window rather than waiting for the car to fill with water. Breaking a side window with a tool is easier than trying to open a door against water pressure.
High speeds heading into unfamiliar terrain, especially near a river, railroad crossing, or unmarked road transition, can make this kind of outcome more likely. Reduced visibility at night removes an extra layer of warning that daylight would otherwise provide, giving drivers less time to react to a roadway that ends abruptly or leads toward water.
