MONTGOMERY COUNTY—Law enforcement are working to determine how and why a pickup was submerged in a lake in Montgomery County.
Just after 8:30p.m. August 14, sheriff's deputies were dispatched to the Montgomery County State Lake, south of County Road 3600 near Independence, Kansas, according to Sheriff Ron Wade.
A citizen who was fishing at the lake reported locating what appeared to be a vehicle submerged in the water using his LiveScope fish finder. The vehicle was located near the dock on the northeast side of the lake
.On August 15, officers with Kansas Wildlife & Parks - Game Wardens responded to the lake and utilized an underwater drone to investigate the submerged vehicle. Officers were able to identify the vehicle as a Dodge Dakota and observed that it did not have a license plate attached
.On August 16, Kansas Wildlife and Parks officers, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office deputies, and divers with the Wyandotte Volunteer Fire Department responded to recover the vehicle.
Divers entered the water, evaluated the vehicle and surrounding conditions, and determined the safest method for removal. Rough Country Towing & Recovery LLC with a heavy wrecker, and divers were able to secure cables to the vehicle before it was successfully pulled from the lake.
Once the vehicle was recovered, deputies confirmed that no one was inside the vehicle. The vehicle has been identified as a silver 2004 Dodge Dakota 4x4, four-door. It appears the truck has been there for long period of time.
The circumstances surrounding how and when the vehicle ended up in the lake remain under investigation.