Police search for driver who disappeared in Nepean River
A motorist who sank below the surface of the Nepean River before making a dramatic escape from his car is the subject of a massive search in Western Sydney.
NSW
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A motorist who sank below the surface of the Nepean River before making a dramatic escape from his car is the subject of a massive search in Western Sydney.
NSW Police admit they have no idea if the man, aged in his 60s, is still alive after he drove “at speed” down a boat ramp and into the water at Tench Reserve in Jamisontown about 9.40pm Friday.
The NSW Police helicopter, State Emergency Service, NSW Police general duties officers and the dog squad – as well as the local rowing club – are scouring both land and water.
PolAir have also dropped a “dye bomb” into the water to try and measure the current and determine where his body could be.
“Witnesses said they saw what they believed to be a male person go down with the vehicle but then one minute later they resurfaced, gasping for air, before swimming to the western bank of the river,” NSW Police Nepean Acting Inspector Matthew Shirvington said.
“Due to non-existent light they lost sight of him. We are now unable to determine where he is.
“Whether he is in the water or on land, we don’t know. We are taking every precaution.”
Police located the white Toyota Camry at the bottom of the river Friday night and were able to confirm then that it was unoccupied.
Officers are planning to pull the vehicle out of the water tomorrow, spending today focusing on the search.
Police believe the man is from the nearby suburb of Oxley Park.
They have been in touch with his estranged wife and are still trying to determine his motivations.
“Witnesses said that he drove down the boat ramp at speed but it is hard to say how fast,” Insp Shirvington said.
“I would assume it would be about 30km/h. The notion that the car somehow accidentally rolled into the water has been discounted.
“I have been an officer at Penrith for many years and I have never known of anyone deliberately driving into the water.”
Officers have also enlisted the help of a PolAir device, known as a “dye bomb”, which drops a green dye into the water.
This allows emergency services to determine the strength of undercurrents and currents that change direction.
“If there is someone in the water it will be able to tell us where they would likely be,” Insp Shirvington said.
Emergency services have been proceeding in a grid-like manner across the water to ensure now inch of the water is left unaccounted for.
SES volunteers are currently searching both sides of the river bank.
Officers believe it may be a self-harm incident.
If you need help, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.