NORTH CHARLESTON, South Carolina (WCBD) — The North Charleston Police Department (NCPD) said a man was missing after fleeing police early Friday morning and driving into a river.
According to the NCPD, around 4 a.m., a person who was staying at an Airbnb in the Wando Woods area called and said a man was knocking on the door and wouldn’t leave.
The man was sitting in the car when officers arrived, but the NCPD later discovered it had been stolen.
The man got out of the submerged car and called for help, but he collapsed before officers could rescue him, according to the NCPD.
Several agencies helped search the river, including the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) dive team, the North Charleston Fire Department, the Charleston County Volunteer Rescue Corps, and the United States Coast Guard.
The crew was able to locate the car easily but could not locate the man. They used sonar technology but the NCPD said there was no sign of him. It is unclear whether the man drowned or swam away.
As of Friday afternoon, the NCPD said the search was off.
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Department (SLED) is assisting with the investigation.
Editor’s Note: This article is preliminary and may be updated.
