Man killed in river crash was found in back seat of car
A North Central University student who died when his car plunged into the Mississippi River late Monday was found in the back seat of the car, officials with the Hennepin County Sheriff's office said Thursday.
Darron Luhrsen, 26, of Minneapolis drowned after the Pontiac Sunfire veered off West River Parkway, according to the Hennepin County Medical Examiner.
The car crashed through a security fence near the Stone Arch bridge and fell into the river.
Sheriff's deputies say the car was in about 12 to 15 feet of water, and the car windows were closed.
Sheriff Rich Stanek said deputies used a remotely operated underwater vehicle to find the body in the car.
"We used this to be able to go down and take a look -- confirm that the car was in the water submerged [and] confirm there was a body inside the vehicle -- which aided our divers in going down and making the recovery," Stanek said.
Sheriff's officials say they still don't know how and why the car wound up in the river.
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