When two dive teams searched the waters of Cedar Creek Lake in May, their objective was to find the driver of a vehicle that plummeted into the water.
Tragically, the young man's body was found, but there would be more to this diving operation. Searching the area below a landing known as “The Rock,” a small bluff approximately ten feet above the lake, divers dealt with limited visibility in the 50- to 60-foot waters.
With the use of heavy magnets, divers located several vehicles at the lake's bottom. The Russellville Police Department's industrial crane was used to lift two vehicles from the murky waters.
Franklin County sheriff Shannon Oliver hopes to organize another rescue operation where divers can hook to additional sunken vehicles. At least four vehicles were discovered with the large magnet, but only two were removed at that time.
With the primary search focus centered on the missing man, Oliver said divers worked hard all day, constantly coming up and down from the lake. Another challenge was to affix hooks to vehicles they couldn't see in order for them to be lifted from the water.
“It was an extremely tiring process to swim down and tie off to something they weren't even able to see,” Oliver said.
Oliver recalled another diving operation organized by former sheriff Larry Plott that recovered numerous vehicles approximately 15 years ago. Oliver said several of those vehicles were reported stolen.
“The Rock” is accessible from County Road 84 by way of an unpaved circular roadway. With no guardrail or limited access for vehicles, cars can easily be driven to the edge and/or into the deep waters.
“Typically, these vehicles will be stolen or have been dumped as part of insurance fraud schemes," Oliver said. "In some cases they may get parts off it and then dump it into the lake."
A Suzuki truck and Toyota Corolla were removed in May. Investigators were unable to identify the two removed vehicles as stolen, so Oliver said they're officially classified as abandoned.
“The Rock” is a popular gathering place and swimming location. A tree that contained a rope swing died several years ago, but swimmers still enjoy jumping off the large slab into the deep waters.
Due to its remoteness and difficulty to access, (the road is washed out and sometimes requires four-wheel drive), “The Rock” remains a popular dumping ground for vehicles and heavy equipment.
Oliver said he plans to meet with BCDA administrator Shannon McKinney about the possibility of a guardrail to prevent direct driving access to the edge.
“BCDA officers do a good job patrolling the area regularly. But it's pretty secluded," Oliver said. "I'm hoping to restrict vehicles from accessing the water's edge."
The Franklin County Dive Team and Colbert County Dive Teams conducted the rescue operation in May, Oliver said.
