From The Tribune staff reports
CHAMBERS COUNTY — An Auburn University student’s white two-door 1974 Ford Pinto Runabout was discovered after he vanished 45 years ago on Tuesday, December 7, around 11:20 a.m.
According to the Troup County Sheriff’s Office, on Tuesday, December 7, around 11:20 a.m., deputies with the Chambers County Sheriff’s Office were notified of what appeared to be a car submerged in a creek off of County Road 83, approximately 1 mile from County Road 388. Once they arrived on the scene, they recovered the vehicle from the water, and it appeared to be an older model Ford passenger car with a 1976 Georgia tag with a Troup County decal. Chambers County contacted the Troup County Sheriff’s Office to run the tag information. The Troup County tag office was contacted, and investigators checked for any records.
Kyle Wade Clinkscales, 22, left LaGrange on the night of January 27, 1976, to travel back to Auburn University, where he was a student. On the night of January 27, 1976, 22-year-old Kyle Wade Clinkscales left LaGrange to travel back to Auburn University, where he was a student. However, he never arrived, and neither he nor his vehicle was ever found.
After verifying information, the tag and VIN matched a 1974 Ford Pinto Runabout, the same car Kyle Clinkscales was last seen driving on January 27, 1976.