UPDATE: The identity of the woman who perished in Monday morning's accident has been released by authorities. The Rock Island Co. Coroner says the victim was 28-year-old Leah F. Manche of East Moline, Ill.
Original Story:
Moline police say a 28-year-old woman from East Moline was found dead inside a car that was pulled from the Mississippi River Monday morning.
"At approximately 3:30 a.m., an officer noticed a car, driving along river drive, witnessed a vehicle submerged in the water, saw the tail lights as it submerged," said Moline Police Detective Scott Williams.
It's early in the investigation, but police say it appears the vehicle went in headfirst in the 4500 block of River Drive. A fire department rescue boat was brought in and crews scoured the water, but windy and cold conditions made the search dangerous in the darkness and crews were called back to shore until daylight.
Police say firefighters were able to mark the vehicle to assist a dive team that entered the water shortly after 7:00 a.m. That's when volunteers with the Big River Rescue/Recovery Dive Team and Quad City Towing pulled a red Pontiac Grand Prix from the water. The woman was found inside and pronounced dead at the scene.
Police say it's not known when the vehicle left the roadway and entered the river. Investigators reconstructed the crash scene to try to determine the cause. Police are also asking for any information that may help explain what happened. Contact the Traffic Division of the Moline Police Dept. at (309) 524-2214.
According to the Rock Island Co. Coroner, no autopsy will be performed, but they are waiting for toxicology test results.
