diff --git a/game/reconstructed/mech4.cpp b/game/reconstructed/mech4.cpp
index 77b77f3..ee88af5 100644
--- a/game/reconstructed/mech4.cpp
+++ b/game/reconstructed/mech4.cpp
@@ -981,11 +981,21 @@ void
 		// the empty spot).
 		if (!wreck_visible && collisionVolumeCount != 0)
 		{
+			// Zeroing the count stops MoveCollisionVolume from re-placing the
+			// box -- but the mech-vs-mech gather (Mover::GetCurrentCollisions)
+			// tests mover->collisionVolume DIRECTLY, never the count, so the
+			// stale box would keep blocking at the wreck spot.  PARK it far
+			// underground: a box 100km down intersects nothing, ever.
 			collisionVolumeCount = 0;
+			if (collisionVolume != 0)
+			{
+				collisionVolume->minY -= 100000.0f;
+				collisionVolume->maxY -= 100000.0f;
+			}
 			if ((Entity *)this == gEnemyMech)
 				gEnemyMech = 0;
 			if (getenv("BT_DEATH_LOG"))
-				DEBUG_STREAM << "[death] buried wreck went INERT (collision off, "
+				DEBUG_STREAM << "[death] buried wreck went INERT (collision parked, "
 					"target lock dropped)\n" << std::flush;
 		}
 		wreckSmokeTimer -= dt;