LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A man whose vehicle went into Clear Lake on Tuesday afternoon survived thanks to the quick action of people arriving at the scene.

Shortly before 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, a vehicle was reported to have gone into Clear Lake along Highway 20 west of Paradise Cove, located east of Lucerne.

Initial radio reports indicated the vehicle was in the lake, on its top, and that it had been swerving before going off the roadway.

A short time later, California Highway Patrol arrived at the scene and reported there was one male subject trapped in the vehicle but that his head was above the water, and that a rescuer was in the water with him.

Northshore Fire personnel who arrived at the scene went into the water and in about five minutes had successfully extricated the man from the car and removed him from the water, according to radio reports.

After assessing the man’s condition, firefighters determined he was uninjured, according to incident command.

Following the rescue, firefighters conducted a hazardous materials assessment and incident command asked dispatch to contact Lake County Environmental Health, as there was a sheen on the water, possibly from oil or gas from the vehicle.

Incident command reported that a boom was put out to absorb any materials from the car.

The CHP reported later that the California Department of Fish and Wildlife also was contacted about the hazmat concerns.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.