MI - Jon Dowler, 52, accidental drowning in vehicle, Lake Macatawa; daughters, 8 & 10, escape through back - Park Township, Ottawa County, 22 Jan 2023

[ifindedout]

Sisters survive after dad accidentally drives car into Michigan lake

Two young sisters managed to escape from a car that had plunged into a lake in western Michigan, and then spent several hours shivering in wet clothing and bare feet before finally finding help.

www.dailymail.co.uk

The girls, ages 8 and 10, escaped through the rear of the car, got to shore, and were alone overnight for hours before finding someone nearby at a home in Park Township. Many properties around the lake are vacant in the winter.

Their 52-year-old father, who was driving the car, was dead by the time divers located their vehicle on Sunday in Lake Macatawa, the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office said.

Location here, confirmed by WOOD-TV further below.

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TV taught girls who escaped crash to huddle for warmth

Authorities say two girls managed to escape a car after it crashed into Lake Macatawa because the back hatch opened — though it’s not yet clear how — after which they huddled together for war…

www.woodtv.com

Investigators determined the crash was accidental. Westveer said speed may have been a factor and also acknowledged that the stretch of road where it happened is dark.

“At this point, we believe that the father became disoriented, not familiar with the area, which ended up (with) him ending up in the water just because of the way that road is constructed there,” [Sheriff's Lt. Eric] Westveer said.

RIP to the brave dad whose first concern was for the girls. Thoughts and prayers for them. Of course this also brings to mind Kiely's case.

 

[njbchgal]

He must have been going pretty fast and a straight shot on that street to plunge - its winter and the area is clear(no leaves) although dark I'm sure you would think you'd see you were driving in the abyss and see some signs of breaking....the DM article pics do not show deep tire/breaking at all....If you have a navigator console/gps you'd see body of water at least visually as a guide....those poor girls. This happened at 2am I think - 8 and 10 yr olds out that late with Dad who knows....weird.

 

[AzPistonsGirl]

PICTURED: Father who died after driving SUV into frigid Michigan lake

Police said Jon Paul Dowler's SUV did not have an internal handle on the trunk. Cops said evidence indicated he popped the trunk from the driver's side switch.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

The girls, ages 8 and 10, escaped through the rear of the car, got to shore, and were alone overnight for hours before finding someone nearby at a home in Park Township. Many properties around the lake are vacant in the winter.

Their 52-year-old father, who was driving the car, was dead by the time divers located their vehicle on Sunday in Lake Macatawa, the Ottawa County Sheriff's Office said.

Location here, confirmed by WOOD-TV further below.


Investigators determined the crash was accidental. Westveer said speed may have been a factor and also acknowledged that the stretch of road where it happened is dark.

“At this point, we believe that the father became disoriented, not familiar with the area, which ended up (with) him ending up in the water just because of the way that road is constructed there,” [Sheriff's Lt. Eric] Westveer said.

RIP to the brave dad whose first concern was for the girls. Thoughts and prayers for them. Of course this also brings to mind Kiely's case.

This is so sad. As I've said so many times on Websleuths, why oh why do we have roads that lead to water? Those poor girls.

 

[musicaljoke]

This is so sad. As I've said so many times on Websleuths, why oh why do we have roads that lead to water? Those poor girls.

Apparently the road must have been without guard rails. Such a needless oversight!

 

[Spartygirl]

Yes, we have a lot of lakes here in Michigan.
What a tragedy for this to happen.
But at night, in the dark, and if you are not familiar with location, it is so easy to drive into a lake.

I am curious if they lived around there though.
I haven't caught up on details yet, just seeing this but if semi local, he would know the area.
Holland is a beautiful area right on our Western coast of Lake Michigan.

 

[BeginnerSleuther]

Apparently the road must have been without guard rails. Such a needless oversight!

But is it an oversight? There are many roads across the country that lead to bodies of water. There are so many of these tragedies and they can be prevented. :-(

MOO.