Pickup truck rolls down boat launch and sinks into Illinois lake
It’s behind you! Moment $70,000 pickup truck rolls down boat launch and sinks into Illinois lake during live TV news report
- The footage was captured during a broadcast by WICS ABC NewsChannel 20
- White GMC Sierra pick-up truck rolled backwards into Lake Springfield, Illinois
- Driver had climbed out to release boat it was towing from its trailer at the time
The owners of a brand new pick-up truck were less than impressed when it rolled down a boat launch and sank into a lake on live TV.
Reporter Jakob Emerson was delivering a live report on a proposed building project for WICS ABC NewsChannel 20 at Lake Springfield, Illinois, totally unaware of the drama unfolding behind him.
The white GMC Sierra HD Denali, which cost around $70,000, could be seen in the background slowly sliding out of view before becoming fully submerged in just 25 seconds.
The driver, who had climbed out to release the boat it was towing from its trailer, was helpless to intervene.
The footage was captured during a broadcast by WICS ABC NewsChannel 20 at Lake Springfield, Illinois
In the clip, recorded on July 29 at 6.20pm, Emerson can be seen standing front-and-centre as he presents a piece to camera about calls to build a second artificial lake in the area as part of an economic development program.
But the real drama is happening in the background as the pick-up slowly edges out of view and down the Spaulding Dam boat launch.
Emerson eventually reaches a natural pause in his presentation and turns to glance over his shoulder before letting out a gasp.
The water bubbles as the white truck continues to sink – taking just 25 seconds to become fully submerged.
The white GMC Sierra HD Denali, which cost around $70,000, can be seen in the background slowly sliding out of view
The driver, who had climbed out to release the boat it was towing from its trailer, was helpless to intervene before it became fully submerged
The GMC Sierra took just 25 seconds to become fully submerged (pictured being towed back out of the water)
Fortunately, nobody was inside the pickup at the time and no injuries were reported.
Sangamon County Emergency Management Office Director Bill Lee said that particular boat launch used by the driver posed risks.
‘Most of them have a very gradual decline, this one seems to drop off relatively quick,’ Lee told WCIS.
‘It’s always best to park at the top of the ramp and go down and walk the ramp to identify if that thick algae is there and makes it real slick.’
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