The Oklahoma Highway Patrol Marine Enforcement Division was back at Sapulpa’s lakes on Monday morning as the unit worked to recover a vehicle found submerged last week.
Brad Smith of Smith Productions said they found the car while conducting testing on one of their “unmanned boats” on Wednesday, February 4th.
“We were out here on Wednesday testing our boat, and didn’t even see the vehicle until we’d gotten back to the office to check the data,” he said. “When we noticed it, we called Sapulpa Police.”
Smith added that they returned the next day and, though they were able to find the car, it was harder to see because of the fish surrounding it. “It was strange,” he said, “on Wednesday, there was almost nothing, and then Thursday, it was covered in fish.”
These boats carry sonar equipment that allows them to measure depth and look for unique characteristics of the body of water they are in. They can be programmed to scout the area without running into a bank or shore, and are frequently used in search-and-rescue and law-enforcement operations.
The vehicle turned out to be a silver 2003 Chevrolet Suburban, and had not been reported stolen, but Sapulpa Police Chief Mike Reed said that doesn’t mean it wasn’t. “After a certain period of time, vehicles that have been reported stolen fall off the registry,” Reed told Sapulpa Times at the scene of the recovery. “So we’ll have to do some research to see what the vehicle’s history is.”
Officer Jason Deloach informed Chief Reed that OHP divers believed the vehicle had been “down there awhile.”
“They said the bumper was rusted through, was almost gone,” he said.
The Suburban had been set on fire prior to being submerged in the lake, as evidenced by the windshield that was more melted than broken. The interior appeared to have more water damage than fire damage. No occupants were found in the vehicle, indicating it had been stolen or used in a fraudulent insurance claim.
The vehicle, which was found about 68 feet off the edge of the bank and 16 feet deep in the water, is the second time in a year that OHP’s Marine Enforcement Division has been out to Sapulpa’s lakes.
In July of 2025, they were called to Sahoma Lake to recover a late-model Chevy Camaro that was missing its engine and transmission.
(Photos and video by Sapulpa Times)