The owner of a Nissan pickup truck failed miserably while attempting to cross a river in Canterbury, New Zealand.
The scene was captured by Jamie Jack, who posted the video on his Facebook page. In the clip, which has already received over 35,000 views, the beginning of what would become a terrible idea is visible.
The video shows the vehicle at the start of its crossing of the Ashburton River, just before it tipped over and sank into what Jack described as a hole beneath the water.
According to Motor 1, the Ashburton River is a braided river, a type of river common on the Canterbury plains in New Zealand’s South Island. Unlike a single-channel river, braided rivers spread across wide, shallow gravel beds that constantly split and rejoin in ever-changing channels.
This geography makes them deceptively dangerous to cross. Water depth can change dramatically within a few meters, and what appears to be a shallow crossing may conceal a deep channel scoured by recent water flows.
In Jack’s case, there is also the risk of water entering the engine. According to NZ4WD magazine, rebuilding an engine that has been submerged in a river can be labor-intensive and expensive.
Fortunately for Jack, draining the oil pan and cleaning water from the glow plugs was enough to get the pickup running again, according to him.
However, it’s worth emphasizing that water intrusion into the engine oil, transmission, differentials, and electrical systems can cause problems that do not appear immediately, so whether the Nissan will remain fully functional long-term is another question.
Photo and video: Facebook. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
