[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.”
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.”
Earlier Chapters:
- Vehicle Upside Down in Water by Confusion Hill on 101
- Rescuers Unable to Recover Occupant(s) or Vehicle After It Plunged Into Eel River
- CHP Searched Sunday for Vehicle and Occupant(s) That Disappeared Into the Eel on Friday
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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..
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?
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/
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.
This was in Mendocino County not Humboldt.
I drove past and seen all the cops and what looked like a place where the car went off
This family is missing.
I hope not. Just because the idea of more children being lost like this is too awful.
So heart wrenching!
Someones loved ones will be getting the terrible news.
Awful
The current is probably taking it down river a considerable amount from where it fell in .
It’s possible but that area has many bends and shallow riffles that would hang a vehicle up.
Also a deep hole.
It’s hard to find words. Tragedy doesn’t begin to cover it.
I saw a maroon rear view mirror at the crash site.
Our hearts ache at the loss.
Tears of sorrow.
Hope it’s not related 🙏🏻
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.americanbazaaronline.com/2018/04/09/los-angeles-based-indian-american-family-reported-missing-433535/amp/
The missing car’s color is maroon aswell 🙁
rear view are always black. and interior. how is a rear view mirror maroon?
I assumed they meant side view mirrors because those are often painted the exterior color.
I am so very sorry to the family of whomever the victim or victims are. What a horrifying way to go. Blessings to all.
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
My thoughts are with you and I hope you find answers soon. Did you try to contact Mendocino county CHP or Sheriff?
Contact the humboldt county sherriffs department. I hope you guys get some news. This is just terrible.
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!
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.