Updated 3:40 p.m.

LEGGETT, Calif. -- A vehicle fell into a rain-swollen river and vanished last week in the same region of California's far north coast where a family that vanished during a road trip is last known to have been, authorities said.

Mendocino County sheriff's Lt. Shannon Barney told The Press-Democrat of Santa Rosa that officials will launch a search of the south fork of the Eel River once water levels drop and the flow slows.

Witnesses reported a newer-model maroon vehicle, possibly a Honda Pilot, went into the river about 1 p.m. Friday, said California Highway Patrol Officer William Wunderlich. The vehicle was southbound on U.S. 101, pulled into a turnout and went over the side and into the river.

Four members of the Thottapilly family have been missing since last week while traveling from Portland to their home in Santa Clarita, California, the San Jose Police Department said in an email to The Associated Press.

San Jose police said Tuesday a relative called on April 8 to report the Thottapilly family missing.

Police say the family was expected at a relative's home in San Jose on April 6 but did not arrive, and hasn't been heard from since April 5.

A "missing" poster on Facebook identifies the family members as 42-year-old Sandeep, 38-year-old Soumya, 12-year-old Siddhanty and 9-year-old Saachi. Their car is a maroon or burgundy 2016 Honda Pilot with license plates 7MMX138.

The poster says their last known location was the "Klamath-Redwood National Park area."

Heavy rain fell on that northwestern California region last week.

--The Associated Press