Police ID woman found dead inside car in Salem County creek

CARNEYS POINT TWP., N.J. (WPVI) -- Police say a 60-year-old woman was found dead inside a car after she accidentally crashed into a creek in Carneys Point Township, New Jersey.

The victim has been identified as Cathy Shorter of Grieves Parkway in Salem.

Calls for help came in around 10:30 a.m. Sunday when police say a groundskeeper at the Salem County Sportsmen's Club discovered a car floating in the water.

"Officers responded, observed a vehicle in the water," said Carneys Point Township Police Detective Matthew Petrutz. "A dive team determined there was a body in the water."

Police say the victim had been at a family party the night before, and when she left the club that sits in a heavily-wooded area, she unknowingly headed for the lake instead of the main entrance.

"If go right, you go to the entrance of the Sportsmen's Club. If you make a left, you go towards where she was found, it is up a ramp," said Petrutz.

The car was found 150 feet from the boat ramp, and had been partially submerged in the water since 8 p.m. Saturday night.

An autopsy is scheduled for Monday.

Police are still working to determine what, if any, factors led the woman off the road and into the lake.