Missing Man From Car Driven Into Mississippi River ID'd
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- WCCO has confirmed the identity of one of the two men who drove an SUV into the Mississippi River in Anoka early Friday morning.
Ramsey Police say they received a report of an off-roading SUV that drove into the river at about 1:30 a.m. Witnesses say the vehicle was first driving through a yard behind a home when the driver stopped for a moment at the river's edge, and then drove down the bank.
When officers arrived, the SUV was about 175 yards from shore, and 39-year-old Travis Laron Benjamin laid unresponsive on top of the vehicle's roof. As a rescue team entered the river, Benjamin fell off the roof and in to the water.
Teams searched for his body on Saturday morning, but the search was suspended in the afternoon due to dangerous currents. Authorities say the search will continue Sunday, and will focus on using sonar equipment above the water's surface.
A 42-year-old man, who has not been identified, was rescued from the SUV but did not cooperate with officers back on shore.
Police say he appeared under the influence of alcohol. He was transported to a hospital and received treatment for hypothermia.
Ramsey Police say Benjamin is presumed dead.