Confusion surrounding the location of a car that plunged into the Anacostia River might have delayed the emergency response. News4’s Mark Segraves reports.
Three people are dead after a car plunged into the Anacostia River late Thursday night, and investigators are working to learn why.
The car entered the water from the Anacostia Park side of the river, according to the Metropolitan Police Department. However, it's not clear whether the car was on the bridge or on a street before crashing into the river. Police said earlier Friday they believed it was likely the car was on Anacostia Drive SE before the crash.
The response began as a search-and-rescue. But D.C. Fire & EMS said about 12:30 a.m. Friday that one person was found dead in the car. Divers later discovered two more people dead in the water.
The deceased driver, 45-year-old Artareihk Knight of Clinton, Maryland, had been charged April 15 with driving under the influence and operating a vehicle while impaired and was scheduled for arraignment next week, according to court documents.
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One of the deceased passengers was identified as 46-year-old Tim Juan Mundell of Southeast D.C., police said. The second passenger's identity is being held pending notification of next of kin.
Several people called 911 after seeing the car in the water near the Frederick Douglass Bridge, authorities said. The earliest calls came in about 10:30 p.m.
There was some confusion early on about where to find the submerged vehicle, and rescue workers were first dispatched to the 11th Street Bridge, which is about a mile-and-a-half away from the Frederick Douglass Bridge.
"Report of a vehicle in the water at the 11th Street Bridge, 11th Street Bridge Southeast," a dispatcher can be heard telling first responders in radio transmissions obtained by News4.
First responders requested help from a U.S. Park Police helicopter, but after several minutes, firefighters reported they couldn't find the car.
"Investigating ... finding nothing so far," a rescue worker says.
Eventually, crews found the car upside down in the water at the Frederick Douglass Bridge. The Coast Guard, D.C. Fire and EMS and D.C. police boats searched the river.
Police could be seen near Anacostia Drive SE and the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge overnight and into the early hours of Friday morning. Early Friday morning, a tow truck began pulling the black car up the embankment to Anacostia Park.
Officers could be seen collecting evidence, including a cellphone and a water bottle. Investigators also took some photos before the car was towed away.
It's not clear why the car went into the river in the first place.
"Sadly, this will be a recovery rather than a rescue," the statement on Twitter read.
The Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge sidewalk was partially shut down early Friday while police investigated.
