Multi-Agency Operation to Locate Vehicle and Driver in Lake Don Pedro 

September 13, 2024 – Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office officials report that on Monday night, September 10, 2024, at about 11:48 p.m., TCSO received a 911 call from a driver reporting that their vehicle had gone into Lake Don Pedro at Fleming Meadows Marina.

TCSO units, including the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Boating Enforcement Unit and the CHP-Sonora, immediately responded to the area and began searching for the vehicle, which was not visible from the shore.

TCSO Boating Enforcement Unit deputies called for additional support, including the TCSO Dive Team and the Calaveras County Boating Unit. Boating Unit deputies utilized an underwater robot to search the area and located a possible object matching a vehicle beneath the water. The TCSO Dive Team entered the water, located the vehicle, and discovered the driver, 64-year-old Donald Baker of Modesto, deceased inside the vehicle. Baker was recovered from the vehicle by Dive Team members. Dive Team members also assisted with the removing of the vehicle from the lake.

Through investigation, it was determined that Baker had driven his Kia sedan to the Fleming Meadows Boat Ramp area at Don Pedro Lake. Baker backed his vehicle down an embankment towards the water line, and for an unknown reason, the vehicle accelerated backward into the water, where it shortly after sunk into the water. CHP-Sonora is the lead agency, and the crash remains under investigation.

The images below show scenes of the multi-agency operation including TCSO, Calaveras County Boating Units, and TCSO Dive Team during the operation to locate the vehicle and driver.

Source & photos: Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office