Making one wrong turn can have life-changing consequences. As the owner of this sorry-looking Ford Bronco discovered firsthand. They also learned a tough lesson about Maine's tidal patterns. The "how" is unclear, given the Bronco's off-roading capabilities.

The popular Jeep Wrangler alternative was lost to the tides this week, discovered sans owner at Maine's Bar Harbor sandbar. Apparently, the location has a habit of swallowing up vehicles. In fact, it appears to be a somewhat regular occurrence in Bar Harbor, indicating that lessons often have to be taught twice.

The soggy saga of this Bronco starts on April 15, according to local radio news station WDEA, when the vehicle was discovered sitting abandoned and submerged on the sandbar. Apparently, the tides had claimed the car after the owner, a New Jersey resident if the plates are to be believed, abandoned the car after getting stuck. This came after some alleged and very ill-advised donuts on the sandbar.

Since then, a local towing company has had mixed results removing the vehicle. As it's told by WDEA the sand sitting below the water's surface is predictably soft, and likely why the SUV was stranded in the first place, which also makes recovery rather tricky. During the first day, the Bronco was only moved around 100 feet, and a diver was sent out later at high tide with airbags to try and float out the 4,500-lbs SUV.

As of April 18, the car is still trapped in its semi-aquatic home. Island Towing, the company attempting to extract the SUV, says they've snapped a 3-inch tow rope in their attempts. They've even gone back with two winch-equipped trucks of their own to try and pry the Bronco free.

Humorous as it may be for some, this is a concerning situation. A large man-made object sitting in a bay filled with man-made fluids isn't a pleasant ecological cocktail. In some shots, it appears oil is seeping out of the car. The local government has posted warning signs telling visitors that the high tide could strand them, but they were clearly not heeded. Perhaps the signs should be amended to extend the warning to motorists. Then again, strange SUVs lying in ponds distributing oil is no basis for a system of government.