March 28, 2024

Jasper County Sheriff's Office responds to a call for a submerged car

Submerged car found in South Skunk River near Colfax

The Jasper County Sheriff's Office responded to a call Monday afternoon of a vehicle submerged in water in the South Skunk River near Colfax.

The call was received at 4:44 p.m. and Chief Deputy Rozendaal said the vehicle was mostly submerged in the water when deputies arrived on the scene. No one was in the vehicle.

"It was reported the windows were rolled down and it was a red, smaller car halfway into the water with tracks that appeared to have been driven into the water," Rozendaal said.

Barney's Towing Service in Newton was contacted to arrange for the removal of the vehicle, which took a couple hours, Rozendaal said. After the car was removed from the river, it was determined the vehicle was a 2019 Ford Fusion that had been reported stolen in Altoona.

"Altoona PD is actually the one that reported the vehicle stolen," Rozendaal said.

The vehicle was reported stolen the same day it was found submerged in the river. There were no reported injuries given no one was in the vehicle when officers arrived. The JCSO contacted the Altoona Police Department, who took over the investigation.

"Altoona will make the call in regards to if they want the vehicle held or if they contact the owner and then advise the owner of where the vehicle is and that is usually what the case is," Rozendaal said.

Rozendaal said the car is most likely totalled due to it being submerged in the water for a period of time.

Contact Dustin Teays at 641-792-3121 ext. 6533 or dteays@newtondailynews.com