Cedar Falls Police Investigate Single Vehicle Accident

Cedar Falls Police are investigating a single vehicle accident which happened Sunday (8/16/15)  morning around 6:30 A.M. at Big Woods Lake in Cedar Falls.

An officer was dispatched to the south end of Big Woods Lake Park in the 1300 blk of Big Woods Rd on a report of vandalism. The responding officer observed extensive damage to the parking lot guard rails and shelter house that appeared to be caused by a motor vehicle. Investigation showed that a vehicle travelling north on Big Woods Rd at a high rate of speed left the roadway on a curve by the park entrance. It impacted the parking lot boundary cables in two locations and then went through two of the outdoor shelter supports. There was a large amount of debris and vehicle body parts scattered along the path to the shelter.

After travelling through the shelter the vehicle appeared to have gone airborne and crashed through some brush and willows leaving debris and impact marks on the plants. There was no visible sign of the vehicle from the shoreline and no footprints or indications of persons coming up from the water after the impact. Personnel from CF Fire Rescue arrived on scene and utilized a side scanning sonar as did a second boat brought and manned by Black Hawk County Conservation officers.

Information was developed that the vehicle might be the same one that had been reported stolen from Gilbertville to the Black Hawk County Sheriff's Office. Without knowledge of the welfare or safety of the occupant(s) of the vehicle in the water, contact was made with divers from the Cedar Valley Underwater Search and Recovery Team. The vehicle (a maroon 2013 Chevrolet Camaro) was located in the lake in approximately 20 feet of water. It was removed from the water and was found to be empty. A search was conducted for possible victims that may have been ejected from the vehicle underwater and along the shoreline. No victims have been discovered. The vehicle was verified to have been the previously reported stolen vehicle. The accident remains under investigation by the Cedar Falls Police and the theft is the jurisdiction of the Black Hawk County SO.

The department was assisted by Cedar Falls Fire Rescue, Black Hawk County Sheriff's Office, IA DNR, Black Hawk County Conservation Park Rangers and the Iowa State Patrol.

The vehicle is a total loss as well as the outdoor shelter which is now closed for public use. The park area was closed for several hours during the investigation.

If citizens have any knowledge of this incident or of the person(s) involved; Please contact the Cedar Falls Police at 273-8612 or the Black Hawk County SO at 291-2587.