The wind coming off Lake Erie does not need much encouragement to make a point. On Monday morning, it found a BMW sitting defenseless in the parking lot at Hoak’s restaurant in Hamburg, New York, and went to work.

On December 29, Hoak’s, which opened in 1949 and serves a mean fish fry, posted on Facebook. It wasn’t to advertise; it was to warn locals of frigid winds and battering waves.

In the meantime, there sat a BMW.

Hamburg police confirmed the luxury car had been stolen out of Buffalo, New York. Whoever took it left it parked at Hoak’s with every window down.

For hours, lake water crashed into the BMW, pouring through the open cabin

By the time the weather eased, the interior was soaked and the damage was already locked in.

On Tuesday, the scene escalated to a frozen spectacle. ABC 7 crews returned to Hoak’s and found the BMW still in place. The windows were still open. Lake water that filled the cabin had frozen solid.

Ice coated the seats, dashboard, doors, and body panels.

The sight drew a steady flow of onlookers

“It’s pretty crazy to see in person,” Justin Ryther of Orchard Park said. Hamburg resident Steven Mitchell called it one of the most interesting things he had seen in a long time.

Kevin Hoak, co-owner of the restaurant, said the BMW had been sitting in the lot since Monday morning. Severe winter weather is nothing new there, but an ice-encased BMW certainly is. 

Hoak said police were handling the situation as curious visitors stopped to snap photos, some turning the frozen car into an unplanned roadside attraction.

Police later confirmed Tuesday that the vehicle’s owner had been notified and was arranging to have it towed.

As for who pays for the damage, that depends on insurance

Once the ice melts, the car could have serious water damage. It might even land in the “totaled” zone.

Because the BMW was reported stolen, the owner’s comprehensive coverage would typically handle water and ice damage. If the thieves are identified, the insurance company can pursue them to recover costs.

Without comprehensive coverage, though, the owner may be stuck with a very expensive popsicle.