SUV gets stuck on beach during high-tide

SOUTH PADRE ISLAND - A Ford Escape couldn't escape the surf and has been impounded by Cameron County Park Rangers.

Chief Park Ranger Juan Mendoza said that a prospective buyer told park rangers that he was test driving the sport utility vehicle with the four-wheel-drive engaged in the surf about 10 miles north of Beach Access No. 6 about 3 a.m. Monday.

"He shouldn't have been doing that in the first place," Mendoza said. "He got it stuck about 3 a.m."

The driver returned later Monday morning with a wrecker from AAA, but the wrecker operator told him the SUV couldn't be removed since it was high tide, the chief ranger said.

"None of the wrecker services on the Island were willing to tow it," Mendoza said.

A wrecker service from off the Island pulled the Escape out at low tide and Rangers have now impounded it, the chief said.

The driver is not facing any charges, the chief said, declining to provide the driver's name.

"If he comes back, we'll show him where it is," Mendoza said.

After being in the briny Gulf of Mexico water for several hours, there is probably some damage to the SUV, Mendoza said.

The car has a temporary buyer's license tag on it, he said.