Local diver David Gallagher steers a Jeep Wrangler as a truck pulls it out of the water at Eugley Landing in South Bristol the night of Monday, July 29. Quick Turn Auto Repair and Towing Inc., of Damariscotta, pulled the Jeep out. (Evan Houk photo)
A white 1987 Jeep Wrangler went for a swim in The Gut the evening of Monday, July 29, after sliding down the ramp at Eugley Landing in South Bristol.
William O. Glendinning, of South Bristol, owns the Jeep. He was backing his trailer into the water to load up his boat.
Glendinning said he set the emergency brake in the Jeep, which has a standard transmission, and walked back to the trailer. He then heard a “Bang!” and the Jeep and trailer started rolling back into the water.
The South Bristol Fire Department was dispatched at 8:16 p.m. to the landing on Thompson Inn Road.
South Bristol Fire Chief Mark Carrothers said he believes the Jeep slipped out of gear because of the loud noise Glendinning described before the vehicle started sliding. Carrothers said he is not sure if the slippery seaweed on the boat ramp had anything to do with the Jeep sliding down or not.
A 1987 Jeep Wrangler sheds water as Quick Turn Auto Repair and Towing Inc., of Damariscotta, pulls it back onto the boat ramp at Eugley Landing in South Bristol the night of Monday, July 29. (Evan Houk photo)
A sign next to the boat ramp warns of slippery seaweed.
Two local divers, father and son John and David Gallagher, arrived to hook a chain to the Jeep so it could be towed out of the water.
David Gallagher, who went for the dive, said the Jeep was about 10 feet underwater.
Quick Turn Auto Repair and Towing Inc., of Damariscotta, pulled the Jeep out.
David Gallagher came out of the water riding on top of the Jeep, as he had to turn the steering wheel to keep the vehicle’s course as it was pulled from the water.
The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office also responded.
The scene was clear by 10:09 p.m.
