Fisherman escapes sinking truck after driving into Santa Margarita Lake, CHP says
A fisherman escaped a near tragedy Monday morning when he became light-headed and accidentally drove his pickup truck into Santa Margarita Lake, according to the CHP.
As the water poured in, 54-year-old man Todd R. Moore, of Creston, recovered and with the help of an onlooker was able to escape the 2004 Toyota truck before it sank to the bottom of the lake.
“He went to a different spot, felt light-headed as he drove (and) ended up in the lake,” said CHP Officer Jose Meza. “Luckily for him, there were some campers nearby that were able to get him out before his truck fully submerged.”
The CHP reported that medics on scene determined that Moore’s blood pressure was a factor in the crash, which occurred about 9 a.m. in the lake’s recreational area and campgrounds.
Moore briefly lost consciousness as he was driving his truck and slammed through a metal gate and wooden posts, traveling about 40 to 45 miles per hour, CHP officials said.
A witness camping nearby saw the truck drive into the lake; the man quickly launched his boat and positioned it next to the sinking truck in the lake water.
“At this time, (Moore’s truck) became fully submerged with (Moore) still seated in the driver’s seat,” the CHP said in a statement. “After approximately 10 seconds of (the truck) being under water, (Moore) surfaced and was assisted to the shore by the witness.”
Moore regained full consciousness and was released to family at the scene, suffering only a minor injury, a cut to his finger as he exited the vehicle while it was under water.
Afterward, the man was “coherent and appearing very healthy right now,” Meza told The Tribune later in the morning.
The San Luis Obispo County sheriff’s Dive Team was called out to assist, and members John McKenney and Matthew Holton worked with a tow company to recover the truck.
This story was originally published June 3, 2019 at 9:29 AM.
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