BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – A 56-year-old Melbourne resident identified by Highway Patrol as Robert Sena was killed when he drove the Honda SUV he was driving off the Pineda Causeway on Friday night, Highway Patrol confirmed Saturday.
Sena was driving the vehicle eastbound on the causeway when for an "unknown reason" he left the roadway and traveled into the water," according to a press release by Florida Highway Patrol.
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Sena was submerged inside his vehicle, which was located at 11:25 p.m. News 6 Partner Florida Today reports.
Florida Highway Patrol spokeswoman Lt. Kim Montes said that they are not aware of any witnesses to the crash and that the car was found by fresh water fish patrol.
Brevard County Sheriff's Office divers assisted in removing both the vehicle and the body from the water at around 1:30 a.m. and an investigation is ongoing.
Sena's body is presenty with the Brevard Medical Examiner awaiting autopsy findings for cause and manner of death, Montes said.
That said, due to a history of a previous suicide attempt and related history of mental issues, as well as minimal damage to the vehicle itself which was found with the doors locked and windows up, Montes said the FHP at this point believes it was intentional.
“There were no other vehicles involved,” Montes said.
While final confirmation from the Medical Examiner is needed as to what exactly killed the driver, and whether it was indeed intentional, Montes said the body was maybe 30 minutes to an hour underwater when it was found.
This story was updated to include additional information from FHP.