Authorities pull a Ford Ranger pickup truck from the Clinch River at Melton Lake Park on Tuesday morning, one of a half-dozen or so vehicles recently found in the water.
Authorities pulled a submerged pickup truck out of a cove used by rowers at Melton Lake Park on Tuesday morning, one of a half-dozen or so vehicles recently found in the Clinch River.
The pickup truck appeared to be a dark-colored mid-1980s Ford Ranger. It was coated in what appeared to be brown slime.
It wasn’t immediately clear what, if anything, was found inside.
Authorities have said little about the vehicles or the search for them, including how long the automobiles have been in the water, how they got there, or why officers are searching the Clinch River.
“We’ve got a pending investigation taking place, and we’re just not making any comment,” Oak Ridge Police Capt. Mike Uher said.
In the water, Steve Abner and Mark Bolton, members of the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department dive team, help pull a pickup truck from the Clinch River at Melton Lake Park in Oak Ridge on Tuesday.
Steve Abner and Mark Bolton, members of the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department dive team, searched the water near a boat ramp at Melton Lake Park on Tuesday morning. The boat ramp is at the intersection of Melton Lake Drive and Emory Valley Road. It’s in a cove heavily used by rowers, particularly during regattas.
Crime scene tape was quickly strung up after the divers announced they had found something, and the public was kept at a distance as two tow trucks were called in to pull the truck from the water. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency also responded, and a Knoxville Police Department investigator was at the scene.
The driver’s side of the pickup is pictured above.
The pickup, possibly a few dozen feet from shore, was pulled from the river in less than an hour. The driver’s side window appeared obstructed. The radiator appeared to be missing, and the hood smashed and bent into a upward-pointing V shape.
After investigators examined the pickup and its contents, it was hauled away on a flatbed truck.
A week ago, on Monday, Aug. 13, a bus was pulled out of the river at Solway Park off Edgemoor Road near Pellissippi Parkway. Oak Ridge Police Chief James T. Akagi said nobody was on the bus.
Uher declined to describe any other vehicles pulled from the water, and he would not say when the search started or where else officers might look, adding only that “several areas” are involved.
Tj says
Insurance scam–stolen vehicles?
justiceheard says
Are these people stealing these vehicles and dumping them there? OR is this like missing people related? JH have you heard anything?
johnhuotari says
I’ve published everything I know. I have asked for more details on how the vehicles ended up in the water and whether there might be a connection to a missing person, but the police department has declined to comment on most questions, saying an investigation is under way.
steelydan says
Wasn’t the missing person last year, Derek Funk, driving a Ford Ranger when he was last seen ?
justiceheard says
yes! it was white.
Daniel says
I really want to know more for sure now. It is like there is a junk yard under there.
John Huotari says
There are quite a few people who want to know more, Daniel. Some of these vehicles look like they’ve been under water quite a while.
Terry Frank says
John–Lee was there fishing when the guy in that truck intentionally drove into the water in effort to kill himself. As far as I know, the truck was never removed from the water. One of our customers was there too. He is in the towing business and he tried to offer to remove the truck and was told he couldn’t.
Terry Frank says
BTW, when I say that the gentleman was told he couldn’t remove the truck, it had something to do with insurance/investigation, etc. Maybe there was just no follow up.
John Huotari says
Thanks for letting us know, Terry. I am continuing to see what I can find out and will share any new information I receive.
doc89holliday says
is there any update to the case
John Huotari says
There isn’t much new information, doc, but I will try to post something as soon as I can.