The Coast Guard is investigating an incident that happened aboard the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry which resulted in an intending passenger's car tumbling into the James River.

The investigation, say the US Coast Guard, will probe every aspect of the incident and will determine as closely as possible:

1. the cause of the incident;

2. whether there is evidence that any failure of material or equipment was involved or contributed to the incident;

3. whether there is evidence that any act of misconduct, inattention to duty, negligence, or willful violation of the law on the part of any licensed or certificated person contributed to the incident;

4. whether the incident should be further investigated.

"The Coast Guard is taking this incident very seriously," said Capt. John Little, the commander of Coast Guard Sector Hampton Roads. "We are conducting an investigation to help ensure that situations like this do not happen again."