UPDATED 2:30 p.m.
Police have located the registered owner of a vehicle that was found submerged in the Columbia River this morning.
“The primary goal was to ensure everyone was safe,” explained Sgt. Darren Oelke. “We've located and spoke to the people we believe were in the vehicle and everybody is okay. But the accident portion is still under investigation.”
Officers will continue to investigate the incident such as who was driving during the incident, and what time the accident occurred.
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FIRST POSTED 11:30 a.m.
Mystery surrounds the circumstances behind a vehicle that was found partially submerged in the Columbia River early Tuesday morning.
Crews from Kootenay Boundary Fire Rescue responded to the East Trail area at approximately 8 a.m. following a call from a person living on Daniel Street in West Trail, reporting they could see a car in the river.
The gold coloured Suzuki SUV appears to have gone over the bank near the intersection of Columbia Ave. and McQuarrie Street sometime during the night or early morning hours, though no witnesses have come forward.
Once first responders reached the scene, two divers were called to the site, says Fire Chief Terry Martin.
No occupants were in the vehicle, so the rescue boat was deployed to search along the river bank.
“We sent the boat down the river just in case there was someone on the shoreline but we didn’t find anyone,” noted Martin.
A tow truck hauled the car to street level around 10 a.m. and the file is under investigation by the Trail RCMP.
The police know who the registered owner is, but by noon had not been able to locate the male or his female partner, both in their mid-30s.
Officers are familiar with the West Trail pair after responding to a disturbance call the previous evening, explained Sgt. Darren Oelke.
“At this point in time we haven't been able to locate either one,” said Oelke. “It's a big mystery at the moment. There's so many questions and not enough answers right now.”
A few hours before the 911 call, someone walking by had noticed debris in the area, added Oelke. “We tend to believe that the vehicle went into the river before we spoke to the two people last night,” he said. “But we haven't been able to confirm that 100 per cent.”
The vehicle was partially submerged and sustained damage from going over the bank, he confirmed, and the driver's door was open.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Trail detachment at 364.2566 or call Crime Stoppers.