Car found submerged in Eastview pond

Celina firefighters got a bit more than they bargained for when they came upon a sunken vehicle in Eastview Pond during a training exercise Tuesday afternoon.

Celina Police, who are investigating the incident, believe the red Ponitac Sunbird has been submerged in the pond for eight to 10 months.

Police are currently working with state officials in order to identify the owner of the car. They continue to investigate how and why it ended up in the city's pond along the four-lane highway.

"There are currently no local stolen vehicles that match its description," Celina Police Detective Ron Waltmire told The Daily Standard this morning.

The car had an "older-style" license plate on the rear but no personal belongings inside, he added.

The Celina Fire Department was performing a diving exercise about 30 feet from shore at 2:30 p.m. when they discovered the car submerged in 12 feet of water at the northwest corner of the pond. Initially, divers weren't certain whether the vehicle was occupied due to the lack of visibility in the murky water.

The car, which was found upside down, had settled into the silt at the bottom of the pond, making it impossible for divers to open its doors. A large wrecker was called to the scene and firefighters immediately confirmed that no occupants were inside.

The vehicle is being held at a towing facility until the conclusion of the investigation, Waltmire added.

Officials believe it is unlikely that anyone was inside the Sunbird when it entered the water.

"It was abandoned by someone for some reason, we just don't know why yet," Waltmire said.