A couple lost in a rural subdivision north of Bismarck were driving around at about midnight on Friday looking for a house where there was a party when they took a really, really wrong turn - and ended up in the Missouri River.

Burleigh County Sheriff's Sgt. Gary Schafer said it reportedly took the 1991 Chevy Corsica about 30 seconds to disappear, antennae too. But the driver, a 21-year-old Bismarck woman was able to get out safely through an open window, and the 24-year-old Bismarck man was able to open a door while the car was sinking and get out.

Schafer said the accident occurred at the Hoge boat landing about 10 miles north of Bismarck at Island Park Estates.

He said the couple was not familiar with the area and just knew that the party was somewhere on the south side of the subdivision. By the time they realized they had taken a really wrong turn, the car had already gone over an embankment and was on the boat ramp. The driver braked but the car was on gravel and slid into the water.

Schafer said they apparently hadn't seen the signs warning of a "boat ramp ahead."

He said the couple walked a quarter of a mile or more to a residence north of the boat ramp and rang the doorbell.

The people in the house were sleeping, but did get up and answer the door. Atow truck was called, but because divers weren't available at that time to dive in and hook up the car, the car was left in the water until morning.

Schafer said the couple appeared to be extremely embarrassed the next morning when explaining the situation to sheriff personnel.

Schafer said the car was a total loss and guessed the towing bill was "pretty expensive."

He said the driver wasn't cited, but the accident report is being forwarded to the state's attorney office for a final decision.

(Reach reporter Virginia Grantier at 250-8254 or at virginia.grantier@;bismarcktribune.com.)