Submerged truck pulled from Reach Beach

Local canoeists found the Toyota Tacoma below the tide line on July 5

July 13, 2026

By Jessi Hardy

DEER ISLE–The Deer Isle Volunteer Fire Department responded to a July 5 report of a Toyota Tacoma submerged in water on Reach Beach.

Brooklin resident Russell Kaye, a photographer, and his girlfriend, Allison Waters, noticed the truck below the tide line as they were launching their canoe. The tide was coming in so Kaye and Waters looked inside the vehicle for keys, but found none. The truck appeared to have already been through a tide cycle, Kaye said. 

Local residents found the Toyota Tacoma half submerged in the water. An attempt to find the key and drive the truck out of the water was unsuccessful. Photos courtesy of Russell Kaye and Deer Isle Fire Department.

“We just wanted to go for a [...] paddle,” Kaye said. “But when we got down to that beach, I’m like, well, what’s going on here?”

The Deer Isle Fire Department, Maine Marine Patrol, and State Police responded to the incident. Photo courtesy of Deer Isle Fire Department.

Kaye quickly contacted local firefighter Broc Eaton, who notified the Deer Isle Fire Department and Maine Marine Patrol. The State Police were also called to the scene. Emergency responders arrived just before noon.

“When we got there we could only see the top third of the cab,” said Deer Isle Fire Chief Brent Morey. “One of our firefighters went in to tie a rope on it and we pulled it out with the winch on our rescue [truck].”

Responders determined that the truck was owned by Tony Nevells Jr., of Deer Isle, who was not on site when it was discovered. No injuries were reported and the vehicle was towed from the scene.