LAKELAND, Fla. — Police are investigating the deaths of a mother and her two young sons found in a submerged car in Lake Wire Friday.

First responders were dispatched shortly before 5:30 A.M. and found a car underwater about 15 feet from shore. According to Lakeland Police, divers noticed the front driver's side window was down as the car was removed from the water. A 35-year-old woman and her sons, ages 4 and 9, were found inside.

Police said early information doesn't indicate a traffic crash, and there were no obvious injuries to the victims.

What You Need To Know

  • Lakeland Police say a 35-year-old woman and her sons, ages 4 and 9, were found dead in a car submerged in Lake Wire

  • Police say early information doesn't indicate a traffic crash, and there were no obvious injuries to the victims

  • A woman who says she witnessed the incident the car wasn't speeding or driving erratically

  • Less than a week before this incident, a man was arrested after driving his vehicle into the opposite side of the lake

Police Chief Sammy Taylor said in a statement, “I’m deeply saddened by the event that occurred at Lake Wire earlier this morning, especially during this holiday season. Detectives are currently working to determine why the mother drove into the lake with her two children. Once the Medical Examiner completes their evaluations, we hope to know a lot more. Give your kids a hug and cherish every moment you have with them.”

Kim Seabold said she saw the incident unfold. Seabold said she was driving south on Sikes Blvd. when a car in front of her made a U-turn.

“Then, I see it just going up over the embankment or, you know, the little sidewalk thing. I’m just like, ‘What the heck is he doing?’” She said. “I thought maybe they just decided to stop there and look at the view.”

Seabold said she didn’t actually see the car go into the water and wasn’t sure what she had witnessed, but called 911 to report it.

“It was just all so normal, you know - no excessive speeding or erratic driving. I said, ‘I believe they just went into the lake, I’m not positive,’” Seabold said.

This is the second time in a week a car has ended up in Lake Wire. According to an affidavit from Lakeland PD, Clinton Bishop, 44, was charged with assault on a law enforcement officer and reckless driving after crashing into the lake on Christmas Eve. The affidavit said he was fleeing the scene of a hit-and-run with a young child in his vehicle.

“While talking to him, I smelled the impurities of an alcoholic beverage emanating from his breath,” the arresting officer wrote.

Bishop crashed on the opposite side of the lake from the woman and her sons, across the street from Swan Brewing. Owner Dan Thunberg wasn’t at the brewery at the time, but said one of his bartenders and a customer went into the lake to help Bishop and the child out. He said he’s never known cars to crash into the lake before.

“In the five years, almost, that we’ve been open, that’s the only incident we’ve ever had around here. It’s crazy,” Thunberg said. 

The investigation into the deaths of the woman and her sons is ongoing.