PLANT CITY, Fla. — A heavy sense of grief settled over a Plant City neighborhood Tuesday as deputies recovered a submerged truck from a retention pond and discovered a body inside during an ongoing search for a missing man.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that deputies located a body inside the vehicle but said the individual has not yet been officially identified. The recovery took place while authorities were searching for 50-year-old Derek Smith, who has been missing since Sunday.
Family members had been desperately searching for Smith for days and gathered near the pond as investigators worked to remove the truck from the water. Loved ones stood nearby in silence, waiting for answers no family ever wants to face.
Deputies said investigators obtained security footage from a nearby home that appears to show a truck speeding into the pond during the early morning hours. No additional details have been released regarding what may have occurred prior to the vehicle entering the water.
As of Tuesday evening, Smith’s family and friends remained at the scene, clinging to hope while preparing for heartbreaking news. Authorities stated that identification of the deceased is pending and will be confirmed through official procedures and notification of next of kin.
The discovery has deeply impacted the community, as uncertainty and sorrow surround the loss. Deputies continue to investigate the circumstances leading up to the incident.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said updates will be provided once the individual is positively identified and the investigation advances.
This tragic situation remains under investigation, and the community continues to mourn as it awaits answers.
