What was very probably just a fun off-road adventure quickly turned into one expensive mistake after a driver somehow managed to drive a Chevy Tahoe into Crystal Lake in New Jersey.
Police officers who arrived on the scene say the SUV ended up partially submerged at the Heritage Minerals site in Manchester Townshop over the weekend, near Crystal Lake.
According to Captain Albert Vega of the Manchester Township Police Department, the driver lost control while on a joyride along the soft bank surrounding the lake, which eventually caused it to tip and get stuck.
The Crystal Lake area in Heritage Minerals has been known for both repeated trespassing issues and a troubling history of deadly accidents.
Chevy Tahoe Dips Into Crystal Lake
While no one in this incident was injured, Captain Vega still made sure to warn others about the dangers of the lakes that are owned by the Hovnian Corporation.
He compares trespassing to water, saying, “It’s like water. They’re going to find a way in.” However, he also explained that more than 200 tickets have been issued to trespassers and multiple ATVs and UTVs have been seized.
Concerning this, Vega said, “(Seizing ATVs) is always going to be an option,” Vega said. “We are doing everything proactively as much as we can.”
The Area Is Known for Trespassers and Deadly Accidents
Over the last 40 years, it is speculated that eight drownings have occurred, with the most recent happening in 2024 when a 33-year-old from Howell Township drowned while swimming in Crystal Lake after his family trespassed in the area.
Just one month after that tragic incident, an 18-year-old man also died there. Other incidents include a drowning in 2023, a death in 2020, and a death in 2015. However, the dangers aren’t limited to the water.
In 2020, an ATV crashed into the lake and killed a 62-year-old man.
The site features deep aquifers that some people mistake for recreational lakes. However, there are unstable banks, sudden drop-offs, and cold water that can help reduce buoyancy and make it harder to swim.
Trespassers Continue Finding Ways Inside
Even though there have been repeated efforts by officers and other government agencies to mitigate trespassing, like putting up barriers, “No Trespassing” signs, vehicle confiscation, arrests, and more, visitors are still finding ways inside.
Chief Antonio Ellis also reminded the public that the Heritage Minerals site is not open to the public or for recreational use. In fact, this most recent incident should be proof of that.
Trespassers who are caught within the property are subject to incredibly heavy fines and can even be arrested. If charged as a Criminal Trespass, then suspects can face up to a year and a half in prison and fines up to $10,000.
The investigation is currently ongoing, and Heritage Minerals has not commented on the situation.