Search for missing driver in Tennessee River ends Friday morning
HARDIN COUNTY, Tenn. – The search for a missing body in the Tennessee River has concluded.
A 911 call was made at 10 a.m. Thursday concerning a Nissan Altima that drove into the Tennessee River at a quick speed at Saltillo Landing with two individuals in the car.
The initial report indicated that men were fishing nearby when they saw a Hispanic man that had wet clothes and could not speak English.
We later discovered that he was the passenger who swam to shore. Because of the language barrier, there was a delay in calling 911.
Authorities told us that the car was recovered Thursday from the river, but the driver was still missing underwater.
Hardin County Fire Chief Melvin Martin stated that the search was suspended Thursday evening and that they were going to continue the search on Friday morning.
Martin stated that fog could have played a major role in the incident.
“Know it was foggy and they were not familiar with the area, and Main Street just ends up right in the river,” Martin said.
Martin, along with Hardin County’s Special Operations Response Team, Bolivar Police, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, and Braden Fire Department, arrived back at Saltillo Landing Friday at 7 a.m.
With the help of the TWRA’s underwater vehicle, authorities were able to find and retrieve the body around three hours later.
Martin stated that he does not believe this was purposeful.
“This was definitely an accident. The vehicle entered the water at a high rate of speed, but according to the witness that made it out, this was an accident,” Martin said.
The name of the victim has not been released as of yet.
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