Van plunges into Welland canal, police investigate

UPDATE

Niagara police are investigating after a van drove into the Welland Canal Tuesday morning.

It happened around 6:30 a.m. near Clarence St. in Port Colborne.

The driver was able to get out of his van and climb up the wall to get to safety. Police say he managed to escape unharmed.

Niagara police say a crane will be brought in to remove the vehicle from the waterway.

“We have to neutralize all the hazards before we put any divers into the water. Ship traffic will be stopped and the intake will be shut down,” said Sgt. Gord Nash, Niagara Regional Police.

Nash says it will take a few hours to recover the vehicle.