Crime & Safety

UPDATED: Vehicle Drives Into Detroit River in Wyandotte

Members of a dive team are on site, searching the water for the motorists.

Wyandotte Patch Editor Nate Stemen contributed to this report.

A vehicle, with possibly more than one person inside, careened into the Detroit River at about 8:45 p.m. Monday near Bishop Park. Police do not believe anyone survived the crash.

Members of the Wayne County Underwater Search and Recovery Team are on site, searching the water for the motorists. The Coast Guard also has vessels searching the water. The vessels were circling an area at about 11 p.m. where they believe the truck is, officials said. Members of the Coast Guard are using sonar technology to locate the vehicle.

Wyandotte and Grosse Ile police and fire also are on the scene. A stretcher is already up and assembled, ready to transport anyone as soon as they're pulled from the river.

Doris Michael, the owner of the former Why Not Costumes, said she saw the driver of a red pickup truck throw a beer bottle, accelerate behind Edible Arrangements, crash through the guard rail near the Detroit River and crash into the water at a high rate of speed.

Wyandotte Fire Chief Jeffrey Carley said witnesses told firefighters that there could have been up to three people in the truck when it went into the river. Their genders are unknown, but Carley said witnesses said the driver had long hair. At this time, Carley said, no one has yet been rescued from the river.

Due to the amount of time the people have been in the water, the matter has now been classified as a recovery effort rather than a rescue effort, Wyandotte Police Chief Daniel Grant said at about 10:15 p.m.

Members of the Southgate Police Department are handling Wyandotte's emergency calls due to the number of Wyandotte officers on the case.

For more on the incident, watch two videos filmed at the scene Monday night.


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