Narooma police have now confirmed earlier reports from witnesses that a woman was driving her silver Kia minivan down Centenary Drive, Narooma when she pulled down her sun visor and out popped a spider beside her.

She panicked, stopped the car and jumped out leaving it in gear and without the handbrake on and it subsequently rolled down into the bay. She was alone in the vehicle at the time, other than the spider obviously.

National Parks workers who happened present at the scene reportedly waded out to the vehicle, opened the rear sliding door and removed belongings including a child seat from back seat. 

Another witness has informed the Narooma News that she witnessed the minivan rolling into the bay off of Centenary Drive shortly before 9am. The vehicle got to where it was in the middle of bay just from rolling down the embankment, she said.

Narooma police were notified of the accident at 9am Wednesday and checked on the welfare of the driver and recorded the incident. The welfare or species of spider is unclear at this time.

Police say the removal of the vehicle is the responsibility of the owner. Pollution from the vehicle into the pristine inlet could also be a concern.

The vehicle was submerged part way up its doors, with the rear sliding door open, facing the Mill Bay boardwalk. There were no obvious tyre tracks down from the newly reopened and refurbished Centenary Drive.

By 10am there were a steady stream of onlookers, including one man who took to the water with an underwater camera.