UPDATE, 1.49pm: Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a Warrnambool man following the discovery of a submerged car in a Warrnambool river on Sunday night.
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Police and emergency services were called to Hopkins River following the discovery of the car, which is believed to have entered the water from Mahoneys Road, just after 8.30pm.
Local police, Search and Rescue and State Emergency Services personnel searched the area and located the body of a 46-year-old Warrnambool man in the water, approximately 500m east of the scene, about 12pm on Monday.
Police are still on scene and are attempting to recover the car from the river.
The death is not being treated as suspicious and police will prepare a report for the coroner.
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential crime report to www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
UPDATE, 7.50am: Victoria Police Search and Rescue squad members have joined the operation looking for a missing driver in the Hopkins River.
Police and emergency services have located a submerged car which is believed to have entered Hopkins River off Warrnambool’s Mahoneys Road just after 8.30pm Sunday.
The Warrnambool district 51-year-old driver is missing.
It is believed he was in the car at the time it entered the water.
The circumstances surrounding the incident are unclear at this stage and yet to be determined, according to a police spokesman.
A crime scene was set up overnight Sunday.
Search and Rescue members arrived at the scene overnight and an initial search of the vehicle and surrounds did not locate the missing man
Police together with State Emergency Service volunteers will return to the site Monday morning for about 10am to continue the search.
Sunday, 9.30pm: Emergency services are searching the Hopkins River in Warrnambool after reports a car drove into the river on Sunday night.
A police media spokesperson said police were told a car had driven into the river at Mahoneys Road about 8.30pm.
She said it was believed the driver may be trapped in the vehicle, but emergency services have been unable to locate the vehicle.
The SES inflatable raft is searching the river and police, fire brigade and ambulances are also on scene.
No further details were available last night.
