A SUV careened into the water off Bay Road Friday afternoon, and police have sent the driver a citation for negligent operation, saying he was sending a text message when the car went off the road.

Lt. Roger Banfill of the Duxbury Police said at the scene that the driver of the tan SUV was driving on Bay Road, in the direction of Hall's Corner, when he lost control of the car and drove into the water. He said the man, Russell Sharp, 33, of Braintree, told police upon their arrival that he had been sending a text message. The man did not speak to reporters at the scene but told police he was not injured.

“He looked up and the next thing he knew, he was in the water,” Banfill said.

On Monday, Lt. Lewis Chubb of the Duxbury Police said Sharp had been issued a citation for negligent operation of a motor vehicle, impeded operation of a motor vehicle and marked lanes violation. He confirmed from the police report that Sharp had been sending a text message while driving.

On Friday, police and fire officials responded to a call of a car in the water, with a man standing on the roof, according to Deputy Fire Chief Christopher West. When emergency crews arrived, the man had safely swum to shore, but his car was still stuck in the mud of the inlet about 15-20 feet from shore.

West said once they learned the driver was safe, the main concern of fire-rescue crews was the environmental impact of any spilled gasoline. He said there was a “minute” amount of gas spilled when the car was being removed from the water, but that it was contained by booms placed by firefighters in survival suits, floating around the crash site.

“All in all we were pretty fortunate the operator was able to free himself,” West said.

A Fire Department diver was able to hook a cable around the front wheels of the submerged vehicle, and a tow company pulled the SUV out of the water.