Car found in canal on E 14th St
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) - UPDATE 10 a.m.: Shortly before 4:00 a.m. Friday morning, an Idaho Falls Police Officer was patrolling in the area of Jennie Lee Drive and E 17th St when they witnessed a vehicle driving in a reckless manner west on 17th Street.
The officer attempted to perform a traffic stop by pulling behind the vehicle and activating their emergency lights; howeve,r the vehicle continued to accelerate at a high rate of speed, turning north on South Holmes Avenue then East on 14th Street.
The officer activated their emergency sirens, again signaling the driver should pull over.
The vehicle fled from the officer at estimated speeds of 70 mph in a 25-mph zone and the officer discontinued the pursuit due to safety concerns.
As officers continued to search the area for the vehicle, they found it had left the roadway and crashed into the canal near 14th Street and SW Bonneville Drive.
The vehicle was unoccupied when located by officers and was ultimately towed from the canal.
A resident in the area told responding officers that they saw a male running from the scene of the crash.
The driver of the vehicle is believed to have made it out of the canal and fled from the scene on foot.
Residents in the area are asked to check their home security footage for any images of the driver of the vehicle fleeing the area on foot. The driver is described as a thin Hispanic male with short dark hair, wearing a black t-shirt and dark pants.
Anyone with such footage or other information is asked to call Idaho Falls Police Dispatch at (208)529-1200 reference case number 2022-19349. Information may also be reported anonymously through Idaho Falls – Bonneville County Crime Stoppers at www.ifcrime.org. Tipsters who provide information through Crime Stoppers that leads to a successful arrest may be eligible for a cash reward.
ORIGINAL: Police are working to get a car out of the canal on E 14th St Friday morning.
A call first came in around 4 a.m. this morning.
Idaho Falls Police, Bonneville County Sherriff Deputies, and the Idaho Falls Fire Department are all on the scene. They have closed 14th St for the time being.
A diver was sent in to check for anyone in the car.
No word yet if they have found anyone in the car or downstream.
This is a developing story and we will have more updates throughout the day.
