I've been following this story for a day or so, but wasn't sure how I was going to post it.

One of the young ladies was a Canadian, so it got more media play up here.

The reports I've seen (preliminary) suggest they drove into a dugout. Farmers and ranchers dig these (with monster trackhoes or Cats) to stockpile water. If it wasn't intended for direct access by cattle, all the sides would be very steep; and if the material was removed for construction (a "borrow pit") you could be on top of it with almost no warning. If, if, if. I know there is one borrow pit on my father's farm that would swallow a full-sized 4x4 extended cab pickup truck and you'd never know it was in there except for the oil slick. Which is how they found the Jeep.

I know that 20-somethings seem to reach for their phones almost as a conditioned response. One can forgive them for making such an error in this circumstance; they certainly paid dearly.

Really, though, I think the story belongs with the "surviving car sinking" thread. The trick seems to be having some pre-thought-out responses to life-threatening situations. At 20, you're still working those out.