Car Found Submerged in Lake Lanier

Authorities respond to incident at Tidwell Park area of the lake.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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Deputies and a dive team have responded to Lake Lanier in Forsyth County, Georgia after a car was found submerged in the water. The Forsyth County Sheriff's Office confirmed they are on the scene, along with a dive team from Hall County, but it is unclear if anyone was inside the vehicle.

Why it matters

Lake Lanier is a popular recreational area north of Atlanta, and incidents of vehicles ending up submerged in the lake are not uncommon. Authorities will need to investigate the circumstances around this incident to determine if it was an accident, a crime, or something else.

The details

The Forsyth County Sheriff's Office received a report of a submerged vehicle at the Tidwell Park area of Lake Lanier. A dive team from the neighboring Hall County has also responded to assist with the investigation. Officials have not yet determined if the vehicle was occupied when it went into the water.

  • The incident was reported to authorities on February 16, 2026 at around 5:37 PM.

The players

Forsyth County Sheriff's Office

The local law enforcement agency responding to the incident at Lake Lanier.

Hall County Dive Team

A dive team from a neighboring county assisting with the investigation.

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What’s next

Authorities will continue to investigate the incident, including determining if anyone was inside the submerged vehicle. The dive team will work to recover the car from the lake.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the importance of water safety and the need for vigilance around bodies of water, especially popular recreation areas like Lake Lanier. Authorities will work to understand the circumstances that led to this car ending up submerged.