WELLS — Those driving by the marsh on Bourne Avenue in Wells on Sunday evening saw an unusual sight: A vintage 1971 red Stringray Corvette was almost totally submerged in the marsh. The driver, Philip G. Aleo, 56, of Malden, Mass., had managed to get out of the car and was kneeling on top of it.

Wells police officers responded to the scene about 6:15 p.m., said Police Lt. Gerald Congdon.

Aleo, who was the only person in the car, wasn’t injured.

He was rescued by the fire department, which “extended their tower (on its tower truck) and lifted him off,” said Congdon.

At the time of the accident, Aleo wasn’t under the influence of alcohol, said Congdon, and the cause of the accident is unknown.

Congdon said the vehicle did not belong to Aleo. It is owned by Thomas Breen of Billerica, Mass., and is valued at $20,000. Congdon said it was his understanding that the vehicle “was borrowed from a friend of a friend.”

The car is likely a total loss, he said.

“After being submerged in sea water … I don’t know how you’d begin to clean that,” he said.

Since driving a car into a marsh is not illegal, no criminal charges were filed against Aleo.

He was arrested, however, because police said there was an active warrant for his arrest, by York County Superior Court in Alfred, for failure to appear and unpaid fines. He was released on $711 bail.

The car was removed from the marsh by National Wrecker in York.

— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 324 or [email protected].