ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA — Emergency crews responded to Lake Phalen in St. Paul on Monday afternoon, November 9, 2026, after a vehicle entered the water, prompting a rescue operation and an underwater search by the Ramsey County dive team to determine whether additional occupants were inside. According to the St. Paul Fire Department, civilians who witnessed or encountered the incident were able to rescue the driver from the water before emergency responders transported the individual to a local hospital. The driver’s identity, age, medical condition, and extent of any injuries have not been released. The Ramsey County dive team responded to the scene and began searching the water to verify whether the rescued driver was the vehicle’s only occupant. Authorities have not confirmed whether anyone else was inside the vehicle when it entered the lake. The underwater search is being conducted as a precaution while emergency crews work to account for any potential passengers. The circumstances leading up to the incident remain unclear. Officials have not said what caused the vehicle to enter Lake Phalen, whether the driver lost control, or where along the shoreline the incident occurred. The St. Paul Fire Department has not released information about the vehicle or whether it has been recovered from the water. Lake Phalen is located on St. Paul’s East Side and is surrounded by Phalen Regional Park, which includes roads, parking areas, trails, and recreational facilities near the shoreline. Authorities have not identified the specific location where the vehicle entered the lake. The St. Paul Fire Department and Ramsey County dive team remained at the scene Monday afternoon as the search continued. No additional rescues or confirmed missing occupants had been announced in the initial information released by officials. The cause of the incident remains unknown, and additional information is expected as emergency crews complete their search and investigation. Source: St. Paul Fire Department, November 9, 2026. This is a developing incident. Information may change as authorities release additional details.