Man killed in river crash was found in back seat of car

A memorial to Darron Luhrsen
A memorial to Darron Luhrsen, 26, of Minneapolis, near the point where police say the North Central University student drove his car into the Mississippi River, just upriver rom the Stone Arch Bridge. Divers located the car about 40 feet from shore. Luhrsen died in the crash.
MPR Photo/Hart Van Denburg

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.

Special Deputy Jayson Johnson
Special Deputy Jayson Johnson dons diving gear to demonstrate how the ROV works. Johnson was one of the divers who helped find the body of Darron Luhrsen, 26, who was found in the backseat of a submerged car.
MPR Photo/Brandt Williams

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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