Toyota At The Bottom Of Lake For 13 Years Looks Surprisingly Good

If you’ve ever stared out at a lake or river, you’ve probably wondered what kind of trash and treasure is lurking beneath the surface. A body of water can hold all kinds of secrets, from lost keychains to cars. Or an entire pickup truck that sat on the bottom for over 13 years.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office was contacted today by a local fisherman who had identified a sunken object using his fish finder. From the surface of the Hughes Landing Lagoon, the sonar device revealed what turned out to be a second-gen Toyota Tundra sitting on the bottom of the fake manmade lake.

The truck was recovered with the aid of The Woodlands Fire Department and a dive team from Harris County Sheriff’s Office. Divers attached floatation devices to the truck to bring it to the surface, removing it from the lake via a boat ramp.

Law enforcement later identified the vehicle as one stolen from Harris County in 2010. The second-generation Toyota Tundra may have been sitting on the bottom of the lake for as long as 13 years, though that is not confirmed. There’s a chance the vehicle may have entered the lake at some later date, after the initial theft occurred.

Speaking to The Autopian, The Woodlands Fire Department filled us in on the details of the recovery. “There were power cables for a large fountain that were across the truck, and we had to spend some extra time moving them,” explained the spokesperson. The Tundra had also attracted some wildlife in the meantime, too. “Three fish were swimming in the spare tire when we removed the vehicle,” said the spokesperson, who advised us that they were successfully re-homed. The vehicle was confirmed as one stolen in October 2010, with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office to follow up with the owner of the vehicle.

The state of the truck is quite something after its extended stay at the bottom of the lake. The hood in particular was covered in some kind of build-up, either mud or underwater plant growth. All four tires were flat, and the paint appears dull and spattered with organic material. And yet, hilariously, some parts of the truck look almost factory-fresh.

The front bumper is shiny and clean, looking like it just needs a quick wipedown. The steel wheels, at least where they’re not covered in mud, look good too. There appears to be some minor damage to the front grille, which is pushed back a bit on one side, which we could theorize happened as the truck hit the water at some speed. Really, though, that’s pure speculation.

Ultimately, though, despite Toyota’s legendary reliability, it’s probably not a runner. Submersion is a great way to ruin all the various electronic modules that run a vehicle. Beyond that, the engine would have been filled with water, along with the fuel tank, and the interior is probably best not spoken about further.

As goes the old saying, the worst day fishing is still better than the best day working. All the more so if you happen to fish up a whole Toyota, getting yourself a great story to tell in the process.

Image credits: Woodlands Fire Department, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office