Authorities have identified the woman found dead inside a submerged vehicle in an Upstate New York pond as Amanda Whitaker, 39, of Middleburgh.
According to the Schoharie County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded early Tuesday after a passerby reported a vehicle partially visible in a pond off State Route 30, just north of the village. When emergency crews arrived, the car was completely underwater.
Divers from the Cobleskill Fire Department and the New York State Police Underwater Recovery Team recovered the vehicle a short time later. Whitaker was found inside and pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators believe Whitaker’s car left the roadway sometime overnight, but the cause of the crash remains under investigation. Weather and visibility are being examined as possible contributing factors.
“There’s no immediate indication of foul play,” said Sheriff Ron Stevens, “but our investigators will await autopsy results before making any final determinations.”
An autopsy is being conducted through the Schoharie County Coroner’s Office to determine the exact cause of death.
Local residents described the area as dimly lit and prone to icy conditions in the early morning hours.