MUDDY CREEK TWP — A Zelienople area man intentionally drove his sport utility vehicle into Lake Arthur in what authorities say was an attempted suicide Sunday morning at Moraine State Park.

The 24-year-old man, whose name was not released, apparently had second thoughts and got out of his Jeep Liberty after it entered the water at the Bear Run boat launch in Muddy Creek Township.

“He had no visible physical injuries,” said park manager Dustin Drew, “but he was obviously cold from being in the water and may have been close to hypothermia.”

Portersville EMS paramedics tended to the man before he was taken to an unknown hospital where he was likely to undergo a psychiatric evaluation, authorities said.

State police are investigating the incident but a report was not immediately available.

“We’re still putting together the timeline when (the vehicle) entered the lake,” Drew said.

The man, after driving several feet into the water on the park’s South Shore, emerged from the Jeep and returned to the dock, authorities said. He flagged down at least two fishermen who had driven to the launch.

One of the fishermen notified 911 about 6:50 a.m.

Portersville and Unionville volunteer firefighters and the county’s water rescue team were called.

The man later told park staff that he had intended to kill himself, Drew said.

The submerged Jeep was eventually removed from the lake with the help of firefighters and a local towing company.

Drew did not immediately know how the man got out of the vehicle. Authorities estimated the water temperature in degrees was between the high 50s and low 60s.