Jake Ziegler, Ray Pierce: Bodies of missing N.C. teens found in car submerged in S.C. river, police say

(CBS) KERSHAW COUNTY, S.C. - A coroner said the bodies of two missing North Carolina teens were found Sunday night in a car submerged in a South Carolina river, CBS affiliate WBTV reports.

Pictures: Bodies of missing N.C. teens found in S.C. river

A Facebook page dedicated to finding 18-year-old Jake Ziegler and 17-year-old Raymond Pierce announced in a post that their bodies were found when search crews noticed a car bumper along the Wateree River near Interstate 20.

Catawba County Sheriff Coy Reid said the bumper had a license plate that matched the car belonging to one of the missing teens.

"It does appear these are the two boys they're looking for," Kershaw County Coroner Johnny Fellers said.                 

Authorities said they believe the car went off the left side of the road and narrowly missed a guard rail, going down a steep embankment and into the river. WBTV reports that tire tracks were discovered leading from 1-20 down to the embankment.

The bodies were discovered by North Carolina volunteer searches from the Community United Effort Center for Missing Persons.

The teens were reported missing by their families on Oct. 14. Investigators said the boys left a party on Oct. 13 and told friends they were driving to the beach. The last sign of the missing teens came from a ping off of one of their cell phones that night along an interstate in South Carolina.

Hundreds of volunteers and members of law enforcement have helped in the search effort since the teens' disappearance. Investigators plan to be back at the crash scene Monday.

More on Crimesider
Oct. 25, 2012 - Ray Pierce, Jake Ziegler: N.C. teens missing for 13 days, search continues in S.C.
Oct. 23, 2012 - N.C. teens missing for 11 days, crash suspected, search continues in S.C.