[UPDATE] River Still Hasn’t Dropped Enough to Locate Vehicle That Was Swallowed Last Friday

The unknown vehicle and occupants swallowed by the rising water of the Eel River near Confusion Hill last Friday has not yet been located, according to Officer Jason Taylor of the California Highway Patrol in Garberville.

“We had people look this morning and they didn’t see anything,” he explained. “I don’t think the river has gone down enough to see it. Where it went off, the river is pretty deep there.” He also said that a CHP helicopter had looked yesterday for the vehicle.

Taylor explained that a couple of parts had been located from the missing vehicle. Emergency personnel, he said, “could see the oil coming up from where the vehicle went into the water.”

The person who saw the vehicle go into the river “reported that they saw a car pulling over,” he explained. “[The driver] went too far over. They tried to stop but they didn’t stop in enough time.”

flooding Eel River north of Leggett

Water continued to rise where the vehicle was last seen upside down in the Eel River. [Photo provided by Southern Humboldt Technical Rescue]

When emergency personnel arrived at the scene, the river was rising and that hampered recovery efforts. He explained, “In a matter of hours, the vehicle was probably five to six feet deeper. We don’t know a 100% if it is still in the same position.”

When asked if this was a similar incident to that of the Hart family which plunged off the Mendocino Coast into the ocean only about 25 miles away, Officer Taylor said, “From everything I read, [Jen Hart] stopped approximately 70 feet from the cliff and then started up again…[The accident by Confusion Hill] is a totally different situation. This is an accident of misjudging the distance or something like that.”

UPDATE: Witness Tells of Vehicle Tipping Onto Two Wheels and Tumbling Over the Bank Into the Eel River Near Confusion Hill North of Leggett; Searchers Scour the River Tuesday

Earlier Chapters: 

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Neighbor
Guest
Neighbor
5 years ago

I live near this spot. Less than a half mile. Its confusing to me. I didn’t see tracks or a spot where the shoulder collapsed. Did the caller just see a vehicle floating upside down and then go under? I would imagine if I saw a car “fall off the side of the road” I would have a vague description. It’s almost impossible to see the river from the highway clearly in that area without stopping and getting out. I hope that if there is a car, it is recovered quickly for the sake of the family..

av
Guest
av
5 years ago
Reply to  Neighbor

Hello, how’s the weather like there now? Is there anyone who may have seen this incident to probably recall the vehicle make model or color?

Jay
Guest
Jay
5 years ago
Reply to  Neighbor

if you can, please advise what car make was it and how it was reported. I am a friend Sandeep since school. From what I read it was a maroon honda pilot. Is there any number we could reach out too to find who reported it and if there is any news surrounding this incident?

https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/04/10/southern-california-family-en-route-to-san-jose-missing/

Someone
Guest
Someone
5 years ago
Reply to  Jay

Your best bet is to call the humboldt county sherriffs dept. Its still raining here and is supposed to for two more days. Hope you find something out soon.

:(
Guest
:(
5 years ago
Reply to  Someone

This was in Mendocino County not Humboldt.

Jeremy Rodriguez
Guest
Jeremy Rodriguez
5 years ago
Reply to  Neighbor

I drove past and seen all the cops and what looked like a place where the car went off

Mobius Moggie
Guest
Mobius Moggie
5 years ago

This family is missing.

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Mobius Moggie

I hope not. Just because the idea of more children being lost like this is too awful.

Shak
Guest
Shak
5 years ago

So heart wrenching!

curlybill
Guest
curlybill
5 years ago

Someones loved ones will be getting the terrible news.
Awful

Mogtx
Guest
5 years ago

The current is probably taking it down river a considerable amount from where it fell in .

Hillbilly
Guest
Hillbilly
5 years ago
Reply to  Mogtx

It’s possible but that area has many bends and shallow riffles that would hang a vehicle up.

Liz
Guest
Liz
5 years ago
Reply to  Hillbilly

Also a deep hole.

Paul Windham
Guest
Paul Windham
5 years ago

It’s hard to find words. Tragedy doesn’t begin to cover it.

Riverdale Guinea
Guest
Riverdale Guinea
5 years ago

I saw a maroon rear view mirror at the crash site.
Our hearts ache at the loss.
Tears of sorrow.

Harsha
Guest
Harsha
5 years ago

The missing car’s color is maroon aswell 🙁

Ali Ells
Guest
Ali Ells
5 years ago

rear view are always black. and interior. how is a rear view mirror maroon?

Sarah
Guest
Sarah
5 years ago
Reply to  Ali Ells

I assumed they meant side view mirrors because those are often painted the exterior color.

Life is good OG
Guest
Life is good OG
5 years ago

I am so very sorry to the family of whomever the victim or victims are. What a horrifying way to go. Blessings to all.

Sejal Patel
Guest
Sejal Patel
5 years ago

Please provide a contact info for whoever witnessed the scene.
Color/make of the car please.
The missing family in the pic above are my loved ones. We are restlessly trying to get help or any leads to our lost family members

Sarah
Guest
Sarah
5 years ago
Reply to  Sejal Patel

My thoughts are with you and I hope you find answers soon. Did you try to contact Mendocino county CHP or Sheriff?

Someone
Guest
Someone
5 years ago
Reply to  Sejal Patel

Contact the humboldt county sherriffs department. I hope you guys get some news. This is just terrible.

Hillbilly
Guest
Hillbilly
5 years ago
Reply to  Someone

Bad info, they need to contact the Garberville CHP station because that’s in their section but this occurred in Mendocino county so they’ll have to contact Mendocino county sheriff office!

Guest
Guest
5 years ago

Riverdale guinea, have you notified the authorities that you seem a maroon mirror piece? If your info is accurate this could be a big lead.