A 22-year-old man, identified by friends as Gurinder 'Garry' Dhaliwal,  has passed away after the minivan he was driving crashed into a body of water in the northeast community of Saddle Ridge.

At approximately 10:00 p.m. Friday, the Dodge Caravan was travelling west on Saddlehorn Drive Northeast approaching Saddleridge Drive. Police say the driver failed to turn at the intersection and the van continued to travel west over the curb, down an embankment and into a pond.

Duffy Pruyn, a volunteer firefighter and a former life guard, jumped into the pond after he noticed a person struggling to swim next to submerged tail lights.

"(He) showed that he was in distress," said Pruyn. "Part way there, I saw that he had stopped arm movements and his head was just bobbing."

"By the time I got there, he was underwater."

Pruyn says he attempted to locate the driver but his search was hindered by the murky water. He found the vehicle and stood on its roof until help arrived.

Emergency crews, including members of the Calgary Fire Department Aquatic Rescue team, responded to the scene and Dhaliwal was recovered from a spot near the submerged vehicle. The driver was transported to hospital by ambulance where his injuries proved fatal.

According to Calgary Police Service Acting Sgt, Schweyer, the minivan was located approximately 15 metres (50 feet) from shore and 2.5 metres (8 feet) below the surface of the water.

Police continue to investigate the single vehicle. Excessive speed is a suspected factor.

Dhaliwal is believed to have been the only occupant of the minivan at the time of the crash.

Fire crews returned to the pond on Saturday morning to conduct an underwater sweep of the area.