Published: July 07, 2009 03:21 pm      

Pond wreck claims area man

It remains unknown what caused a Wynnewood man to drive a vehicle off a Garvin County highway Monday as he was later found dead with the vehicle submerged in a pond.

The victim was identified as Shane Edward Sanders, 36.

A medical examiner’s official pronounced Sanders dead at the scene as the cause of his death continues to be investigated, Oklahoma Highway Patrol officials said.

At a listed time of 4 p.m. Monday OHP troopers were dispatched to the report of a vehicle submerged in a pond adjacent to state Highway 29 about four miles east of Wynnewood.

Members of the OHP Underwater Search and Recovery Team were dispatched and assisted in removing the vehicle from the pond.

Sanders’ body was found inside the vehicle as troopers are still looking into the circumstances surrounding his death.

“It is not clear at this point how long the vehicle was in the water,” said OHP Captain Ronnie Hampton, commander of Troop F in Ardmore.

“The roadway evidence indicates that the vehicle left state Highway 29, traveled through a fence and into the water,” he said.

“The medical examiner will determine the manner and cause of death and we will be conducting a background investigation of the driver to answer pre-trip questions.”

Reports show Edwards, who was not wearing seat belts at the time, was alone while traveling westbound on SH 29.

Troopers concluded the vehicle went off the left side of the road, struck a fence, traveled through a pasture, ran through another fence and continued into the pond.

Assisting a number to troopers at the wreck site were Garvin County deputies.