Van plunges off ferry after being hit by a Mercedes By Yvonne Beltzer , nbclosangeles.com NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. -- A minivan with two parents and two children on board plunged off the Balboa Ferry Friday morning after it was struck by another vehicle. A ferry worker dove into the water and helped the family escape, getting the fourth person out of the minivan just seconds before it sank 15 feet into Newport Harbor. No one was hurt -- the van went under just after the final passenger was rescued. In addition to the ferry worker who led the rescue effort, two boaters pulled alongside to help. Witnesses said a black Mercedes-Benz accidentally accelerated as it boarded the ferry. It rammed the minivan, pushing it into the water. The Mercedes was left teetering off the end of the ferry. The incident occurred shortly after 9 a.m. on the Balboa Island side of the ferry run. Witnesses also said the minivan floated for about a minute and a half before it sank.