Polk County Sheriff's detectives are investigating a fatal crash involving a truck sliding into Saddle Creek Lake with the driver still inside Wednesday afternoon.

  • Charles Custer, 85, died in the truck
  • Witnesses were talking to Custer, yelling at him to get out as the truck submerged
  • Detectives said Custer was unable to get his seat belt off

Officials said around 3:45 p.m. the sheriff's office received 911 calls regarding a truck heading westbound on Morgan Combee Road that veered off the roadway, went down an embankment and into part of Saddle Creek Lake.

The driver, Charles Custer, 85, was reportedly awake and talking to witnesses as they yelled at him to get out of the truck through the vehicle's half-open window.

Detectives believe Custer was unable to remove his seat belt as the truck quickly submerged.

Initial first responders to the scene reportedly dived into the water, but were unable to locate the truck. A Sheriff's Office dive team later responded to the scene and were able to locate the vehicle -- approximately 30 feet underwater -- and recover it with Custer's body inside.

The sheriff's office reports that Custer was employed by PCSO as a civilian in Court Security from 1988 until his retirement in 1999.

The investigation is ongoing.