UPDATE: No Vehicle Found in River; Search Called Off

UPDATED: Rescue crews called off their search for a vehicle reported to have plunged into the rain-swollen Meramec River Monday afternoon.

An unidentified woman reported to a Meramec State Park ranger that she saw a car filled with people drive into the river shortly before 5:30 p.m. The ranger went to investigate but the woman left the area without giving more information or her name.

Sullivan Fire Chief Rich White said crews searched the river for about an hour Monday evening and resumed searching about 7 a.m. Tuesday but discontinued the search about 10 a.m. after not finding any sign of a vehicle. They used a sonar device in the search.

Sheriff Gary Toelke said a St. Louis County police helicopter also responded Tuesday morning to search from the air.

He said there have been no reports of missing persons in the area. Authorities still are looking for the woman, Toelke said.

Earlier Story

Authorities were seeking to question a woman who told a Meramec Park ranger Monday afternoon that she saw someone drive a vehicle into the Meramec River east of Sullivan.

The woman was driving white four-door Chevrolet Malibu contacted the ranger in the park about 5:30 p.m., the sheriff's office said. 

When the ranger left to try to locate the vehicle he lost contact with the witness. The ranger did not find the vehicle in the river and contacted the Franklin County Sheriff's Office. 

Searchers did not find a submerged vehicle Monday night but plans were to resume searching Tuesday morning.

The sheriff's office is asking the witness to contact the sheriff's office so deputies and emergency service personnel as to where the vehicle went into the water. 

The witness was described as a white female with short dark hair. She had two children in her car. 

Anyone who knows the witness or has any information is asked to call the sheriff's office at 636-583-2560.