2 hospitalized after vehicle goes into water of the C&O Canal in Montgomery County

POTOMAC, MD. (FOX 5 DC) - Officials say two people were transported to the hospital after their vehicle went over an embankment and into the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal in Montgomery County early Wednesday morning.

The incident happened around 6:45 a.m. between locks 16 and 17 near the canal's stop gate in the Potomac area south of the Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center.

Officers believe the vehicle was traveling on a foot path before it went into the water and overturned. The two men were able to get out of the vehicle but were not able to climb back to the path.

Authorities say they are investigating the incident to find out why the men were driving on the closed path and to see if there was any environmental impact due to the crash.