Florida man drowns after accidentally driving off fishing pier in Biloxi

A Florida man died Sunday night after driving off the fishing pier off Howard Avenue in Biloxi.

Harrison County Coroner Brian Switzer said 67-year-old Paul Costello of Milton, Florida, was pronounced dead at the scene after first responders pulled the vehicle he was driving out of the Back Bay shortly after 1 a.m.

Costello, visiting the Coast with family, dropped them off at a nearby casino where they were staying and went to park his vehicle. Officials believe he accidentally drove off the bridge, thinking it was a road. That happened about 9 p.m.

Family members in the casino alerted security that Costello had not come back after going to park his vehicle, leading first responders to realize his was probably the vehicle that drove off the pier.