A 1998 Jetta sits in Belleville Pond
On Sunday at around 2 AM Samuel T. Richter drove his father’s 1998 Volkswagen Jetta onto Belleville Pond. Reportedly, Richter was able to exit the car onto the ice, and even call his father from within the car before it sank. He then told police about the incident later that morning. Belleville Pond is located within Ryan’s park, North Kingstown Rhode Island, and is a marsh land where many waterfowl live and migrate through, also people hunt there during the fall.
It is quite surprising how far out on the ice he must have drove it. The Projo reported that he drove 143 yards from shore, however that is not quite accurate. I believe what they meant is he drove it 143 yards from the boat ramp area, or from the distant shore. There is some shoreline very close to where he drove it, even though it is a sort of marshy shore with the dry area comprised mostly of the slightly elevated path around the pond.
Apparently after he reported it he was arrested for a warrant over $9 on fine he owed. Unfortunately, for him there is a pretty good potential he could owe quite a bit more now. Reportedly, the tow company that offered to pull the car out wanted $5,000 at first. I am not sure if the same company that made the offer is the one that was working today, and if so that they would be getting quite that much. Especially, considering the insurance company apparently thought the price was rather steep.
Today, the town of North Kingstown decided to go ahead and try to pull the car out of the ice, despite the DEM’s assurance that it would not be a pollution problem, and would be fine until spring. They apparently believe it would be too much of a dangerous curiosity, perhaps attracting others to go out there. So they got Belleville Auto Salvage to try and pull it out with a tow truck. Unfortunately, the only shore near the car is a narrow path, so the tow truck could only get to within about 100 yards of the car. Two men had to be sent out onto the pond, with only a boat and a line for safety, in order to hook up the car.
The car splashes back into the pond as the chain snaps under the strain
They first went out to inspect the car, then they smashed the windows in with a sledge hammer, and placed a harness around the roof. The tow truck then pulled the car slightly over, and of course in the process mangled the roof. They then attached chains around the back axle. After they pulled the car a few more feet the chains snapped.
All in all the whole process took about two hours. I had to leave at that point, but I heard speculation they were going to try to cut it out, and as I left I observed a man walking in the direction of the car with a couple of chain saws.