SEATTLE -- Firefighters rescued a man Tuesday morning after his Porsche plunged off a waterfront street in West Seattle and into Puget Sound in what police believe was a high-speed crash.

Seattle police, fire crews and the the Coast Guard were called to the scene on Alki Avenue Southwest just after 2 a.m.

Firefighters found a man in his 50s out of the car and on rocks near the shore. Rescuers used a type of basket called a Stokes litter and a fire ladder to lift the victim over the seawall to safety.

VIDEO: Porsche Plunges Into Puget Sound

Police said the car flew about a city block as it was falling and it appeared to have been traveling at a high rate of speed before it landed in the water and was completely submerged at least 10 feet from the shore.

Police said the car was heading eastbound on Alki Avenue Southwest, when the road turned, but the driver didn't.

Ed McCleery, who lives across the road from the scene, said he didn't hear any attempt to brake.

"What I heard was like a thump noise, like a tree falling down. There was no squeal. I didn't hear any car sound or anything like that," said McCleery.

The car struck a light pole on the way into the water.

A tow truck pulled the mangled vehicle out of the water a little before 5 a.m.

The victim was taken to Harborview Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.

The driver was the only person in the car.