Submerged pickup at Bridgeport Dam was stolen, police say, but details murky

A Chevrolet pickup truck that was pulled out of a reservoir at Bridgeport Dam earlier this month was reported stolen in 2004, according to Westmoreland County Park Police Chief Henry Fontana.

But any other details about the theft remain a mystery.

Fontana said police were able to get a VIN number from the engine block with help from the tow truck operator. Authorities tracked down the insurance company to which it was reported stolen and officials there told police they had no records of the matter, he said.

The truck was reported missing 18 years ago to state police, which also didn’t have records available on the incident, Fontana said. The 2000 Chevy was turned over to state police.

The truck was found submerged around Aug. 11 by two fishermen in the Mt. Pleasant Township reservoir, a multi-purpose flood control dam on Jacob’s Creek near Double Bridge Road. After investigators determined no one was inside it, they removed it from the water and the truck — which Fontana said was covered in mud — was towed away.