Man Drowns After Driving Off Into Sea Near Biloxi Casino

A man in Mississippi has passed away after driving his car off a pier next to a casino in Biloxi. While first responders rushed to the scene, they, unfortunately, didn’t arrive quickly enough to prevent him from drowning. 

The Man Fell Into the Water after Dropping His Family Off at the Casino

The incident happened on Sunday. Shortly before 9 pm, first responders were called to the scene where a man had driven a vehicle off the Biloxi Fishing Pier near the Palace Casino Resort area.

The car was submerged in eight feet of water and had to be taken out by a tow truck equipped with a crane. Costello was the only person in the car at the time of the incident.

The pier in question is the longest one around and has two narrow lanes with a single place to turn around before its end. Extending some 5,000 feet into the Biloxi Bay, the pier might have been mistaken for a bridge, investigators suggested. The victim likely considered passing what he thought was a bridge in order to turn around on the other side. Unfortunately, this caused the 67-year-old Paul Costello, of Milton, Florida, to drive off it and plunge into the water.

A mistake is believed to be the most likely cause of the incident, considering that Costello had just dropped off his family at the casino and was searching for a parking spot. His family later confirmed that he had no known medical issues and did not seem to be struggling with a condition that would have driven him to suicide. Additionally, Costello seemed in good spirits just before the accident.

The coroner’s office is set to compile a toxicology report to determine whether liquor or opiates have played a part in the incident.

The Incident Might Have Been Prevented by Warning Signs

The theory that Costello might have mistaken the pier for a bridge is further supported by the apparent lack of warning signs. While the Biloxi Bay is a great place for leisure, the pier’s lack of precautionary measures could have confused the man, who might have been otherwise dissuaded from driving forward.

The only visible sign before the accident occurred was a speed limit sign that set the maximum speed at 10 miles per hour.