Check out this news story I found.

Preserved truck found at the bottom of frozen lake

 

Guy was scooting around on the ice and dropped through...then claimed it was stolen to get his money.

 

Sounds about right to me.

 

I bet that is what happened.
Insurance companies don't cover trucks falling through the ice, so just tell them it is stolen.
Wonder if the key was still in the ignition?

 

Not exactly my definition of preserved.

 

neither is this

 

Didn't think of the key being in the ignition...and in the "Run" position too....

 

The stolen truck was parked on the ice until the thaw and it sunk story, sets off my BS meter.
Who would "hide" a stolen truck on the ice? It would be really easy to see. People also check on trucks on the ice to make sure people aren't in trouble ice fishing, I.E. hypothermia, CO poisoning in huts [or trucks], drowned ETC.
I worked with a carpenter, who used to drive out on the ice in his old beater and use the windshield wipers on delay to jig for lake trout.
I would bet my favorite 12 Pack that the key is in the ignition.

 

I can't imagine
1. A stolen truck, parked on the lake near where it was stolen, with plates intact and not noticed.
2. A truck falling through the ice 100 yards from the boat landing and not checked out.

In Minnesota in March the ice varies from solid 3 feet to soft to none, depending on the weather.

I'm betting it was driven off the landing at high speed, possibly with the throttle jammed and the driver jumped, letting it plane off onto open water till it sank.

And yes, the key is in the ignition.