Video courtesy Crouse Body Shop and 24-Hour Towing, Warsaw

SYRACUSE — Many are questioning what happened that resulted in a Jeep Cherokee ending up in Lake Wawasee when there are no boat ramps in the area.

The county 911 Communications Center received a call at 6:45 a.m. Sunday, June 24, of a vehicle in the lake at 7179 E. Eli Lilly Road, Syracuse. It was also reported no one was in the vehicle.

No official information is available from the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department.

According to Matt Maher, recovery/rescue diver with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer, he was notified to dive and check the vehicle for occupants in the Cherokee that was found in Lake Wawasee. (Photo by Karen Heil)[/caption]

Maher stated the Jeep Grand Cherokee was found 40 yards from shore, after it had apparently been driven, at a distance through the yard of a private residence, over the sea wall and into the lake. He noted a female was at the scene who allegedly had driven the vehicle into the lake. The vehicle was registered to her parents who reside in Carmel.

He noted the vehicle was in approximately 5 feet of water. Crouse Body Shop and 24-hour Towing, Warsaw, was contacted to remove the vehicle from the lake. Maher stated 30 feet of cable plus a tow strap was needed to recover the vehicle.

It is believed the incident occurred several hours earlier than reported and police are attempting to locate other parties involved.

According to the Kosciusko County GIS map, the vehicle went into the lake between the properties owned by Rick and Lisa Hetler and West and Jennifer Davis at 7179 E. Eli Lilly Road, at Pier 798 and property owned by Daniel E. and Jana L. Williamson, 7143 E. Eli Lilly Road, Syracuse, at Pier 797.