Minivan pulled from Delaware River in South Philadelphia
SOUTH PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Search crews pulled a minivan from the Delaware River in South Philadelphia early Sunday morning.
The minivan was recovered around 5 a.m.
Authorities are searching for anyone who may have been in the vehicle. Action News has learned at least one window was apparently kicked out.
At approximately 2:50 a.m., witnesses tell police they saw the driver of a silver 2007 Buick Terraza going eastbound on Oregon Avenue at Columbus Boulevard at a high rate of speed, hit a metal fence, and heard a splash of water.
Investigators have not said if the witnesses had any idea how many people were in the vehicle.
"We're at the light at the intersection and a car comes flying by. I heard a crash and I'm thinking it crashed into another car. I look over and I saw the gate missing and then I heard a splash. I told my friend in the car, 'Somebody went into the water,'" witness Azib Abdussabur said.
Abdussabur said when he ran to the end of the dock all he saw was part of a fender. The car had disappeared in the water.
He said no one came to the surface during the approximate 15 minutes it took police to arrive.
Police say arriving officers found evidence of a crash, but could not see a vehicle. They contacted the Marine units of the Philadelphia Police Department and Fire Department, as well as the Coast Guard.
The Police Marine Unit went into the water around 4:19 a.m. and located the vehicle within five minutes.
A tow truck was called to pull the minivan out of the water.
There was no one in the vehicle when it was pulled to the surface.
