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

SYRACUSE — An 18-year-old who stopped to watch the sunrise on Lake Wawasee Sunday morning resulted in the Jeep she was driving to go into Lake Wawasee.

Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department has released information about the early morning incident Sunday at 7179 E. Eli Lilly Road, Syracuse, where officials were notified a white jeep was in the lake. The call was received at 6:45 a.m.

According to information from the investigating officer Delaney Tejcek, 18, Carmel, had pulled into a gravel driveway on Eli Lilly Road to watch the sunrise. As Tejcek was watching she reached in the back seat to get a bottle of water, accidentally hitting the accelerator. It was at that time the vehicle accelerated across the yard of Dan Williamson, 7143 E. Eli Lilly Road, and went into the lake. The vehicle stopped approximately 40 yards off shore.

Tejcek told police she had trouble getting the door open, but was able to get the window down and safely exit the vehicle and the water. She then went to the home of Rick and Lisa Hetler, at 7179 E. Eli Lilly Road to notify authorities.

Initial reports there were other parties involved proved incorrect as no one was at the residence. Tejcek’s mother was out of the state. According to Wawasee Property Owners “Neighbors” a directory of Lake Wawasee residents, the Tejceks reside on Venetian Drive on the Venetian Islands Channels.

The Williamsons were notified of damage to the yard.