SEABROOK — A brand-new pickup was sent to Davy Jones' Locker yesterday after a boat-launching mishap at Eastman's Docks.
Chester, N.H., carpenter Rob Brown and three co-workers were going to take the afternoon off to go fishing after working all morning. But Brown said when he was backing his 2008 Tahoe down Eastman's ramp about 2:30 p.m. to launch his 12-foot fishing boat, the trailer started rolling into the water faster than it was supposed to. Brown tried to pull up the ramp, but to no avail.
"The boat was pulling me in, the tires kept spinning," Brown said.
Even as the trailer dragged the truck into the water, Brown kept trying to save the pickup. But he eventually had to abandon truck.
"I bailed out when the water was halfway up my door," he said.
Brown had to exit through the window. Chris Kelly, one of Brown's co-workers, said the truck was floating "(back)-end up" for a few minutes, but then water got in the open windows and sent the truck to the bottom. It eventually rolled about 30 feet away from the ramp and 10 feet under the surface with the trailer still attached. The small fishing boat floated clear.
Seabrook police and fire departments responded to the scene, but no one was injured in the sinking. About 20 onlookers watched as a tow truck from R.E. Autoworks prepared to retrieve the truck, as a scuba diver went out to locate it.
Seabrook police Chief Patrick Manthorn said accidental car sinkings are not uncommon in the area, although they can be frightening to those involved.
"I imagine (Brown's) heart was up in his throat as he was going in," Manthorn said.
Manthorn said the Coast Guard would also be on scene to evaluate any environmental damage, such as oil leaking from the truck into the river.
He said the truck would almost certainly be wrecked.
"Once salt water gets in the internal combustion, it's done," Manthorn said.
Kelly agreed that the truck was doomed.
"You work a half day and go out to take a little trip, and look what happens — a $50,000 mistake," Kelly said.
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