I bet running boards are what got him into trouble in the first place. Once they bit into the water, they were like wings that just pulled him deeper and deeper; there was no way to stop until his wife said "For God's sake, use the brakes!"
I'm out in my shop doing a camber ajustment on the race car, when I get back in the house I'll post the direct quote of what the guy said, which will only prove just how stupid people can actually be.