Truck reported stolen in 1977 found in Coralville Lake

A truck that was reported stolen 47 years ago was discovered 20 feet under the water in Coralville Lake and pulled out last month, according to a news release from the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office.

A local fisherman made a report with the sheriff’s office in March after seeing sonar images of a possible vehicle near the West Overlook area of the reservoir.

The sheriff’s office contacted the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, which was able to determine the exact location of the truck — about 20 feet deep on the north side of the Coralville Dam, near the eastern shoreline, the release states.

The Johnson County Metro Dive Team, Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, Tegeler Wrecker & Crane, and Johnson County Emergency Management worked together to retrieve the vehicle from the water on Aug. 20. It was a 1969 Datsun truck that had been reported stolen to the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office in 1977.

The owner of the truck was notified that it was found, but the case was closed without any further investigation because any criminal charges that might have been involved are beyond the statute of limitations, according to the release.

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