Six rescued from canoe

In the face of widespread public notices of wind, high surf and strong current advisories, six people took on the elements Thursday afternoon in an outrigger canoe and had to be rescued by the Orange County Sheriff Harbor Patrol.

About 4:20 p.m., the six were in the entrance channel to Newport Harbor when their canoe flipped and the group had to be rescued, said Sgt. Steve McCormick of the harbor patrol.

“It was a very dangerous situation,” he said.

Amid 10- to 12-foot waves, strong winds and currents, the six were fished out of the water unharmed, authorities said. The canoe wasn’t so lucky. It broke into pieces and was last seen floating in the harbor, McCormick said.

The water wasn’t the only place where it was rough and tumble.

Newport Beach and Huntington Beach firefighters were called to the Pacific Coast Highway bridge above the mouth of the Santa Ana River about an hour earlier, when emergency reports came in that someone was trapped in the river, authorities said.

The call was eventually canceled, and Newport Beach firefighters said there was no confirmation that a person was in the water.

On Thursday morning, Costa Mesa police were called to Coast Hand Carwash, 176 E. 17th St., where a Honda Civic drove into a car wash.

Amid the rain, firefighters worked to stabilize the small building nearing collapse after the car was taken out.

Police said it’s not clear what caused the crash, but the driver may have suffered from a medical condition. He was taken to Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach.

According to the National Weather Service, rain, high tides, waves and wind will continue through today and into the weekend.