A 67-year-old Florida man drowned after accidentally driving his vehicle off the Biloxi Fishing Pier near Palace Casino Resort in Mississippi. Paul Costello of Milton, FL, had just dropped off his family at the casino and was reportedly searching for parking when the incident occurred Sunday night around 9 p.m.

The Harrison County Coroner confirmed Costello likely mistook the 4,700-foot fishing pier for a bridge. The two-lane vehicle-accessible structure, located just south of Palace Casino Resort at E. Howard Ave., has only one turnaround area before its endpoint.

Family members reported Costello was in good health and spirits before the accident. A toxicology report is pending to determine if substances played a role in the incident.

The pier, which opened in 2013 replacing a structure destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, currently lacks warning signs at its terminus. Google Street View shows only a four-foot-high gray metal fence at the pier's end, with no stop or warning signage present.

Emergency responders recovered Costello's vehicle using a crane-equipped tow truck. The investigation into the incident continues.

The Biloxi Fishing Pier, popular among locals and casino guests for its abundant redfish population, extends into the Biloxi Back Bay near U.S. Highway 90. Prior to this incident, it was primarily known as a prime fishing location where redfish could be caught year-round, particularly during spring and fall seasons.

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