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Jeep gets mired in mud, abandoned in Pipers Lagoon

Mar 6, 2019 | 10:04 AM

NANAIMO — An “act of stupidity” left a new Jeep stuck in the mud at Pipers Lagoon and likely ruined.

Police confirmed the Jeep became stuck in the lagoon when the owner and friends were enjoying a fire at the beach and decided to get creative with the vehicle. 

Cst. Gary O’Brien said the owner was driving around the lagoon around 1 a.m. Wednesday morning during the low tide when the inevitable happened.

“As the tides come and go, sure enough his vehicle started to sink in the mud and his 2018 Jeep Wrangler was slowly disappearing out of sight.”

In a panic, both Nanaimo RCMP and Nanaimo Fire Rescue were called. O’Brien said water was almost to the Jeep’s windows during high tide. 

Local crews couldn’t remove the vehicle Wednesday night so the Department of Fisheries and Oceans was called in to assist. 

The vehicle was finally pulled out Wednesday afternoon.

“They recognized this is probably going to be a marine pollution incident,” O’Brien said. “I’m sure there’s going to be a monetary cost to this individual for his act of stupidity. He’s got a huge cleanup, if that vehicle is even salvageable.”

NanaimoNewsNOW has reached out to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to learn how hefty the possible fines could be. 

 

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