Update: Mother, twin daughters dead after car driven into Kalamazoo River

KALAMAZOO, MI – Police say a mother intentionally drove her car into the Kalamazoo River with children inside.

Two children who had been in the vehicle escaped but police think two others died.

Police recovered the bodies of the mother and one of the children but continue to look for the body of the other child, Kalamazoo police Capt. Brad Misner said.

Kalamazoo police responded around 10:45 p.m. Monday, June 17, to Walgreens, at Riverview Drive and Gull Road, on a report of two girls who were upset. The girls then told police that a family member - the mother - had driven a vehicle into the river.

The girls told police that the woman had her two children inside the vehicle when it plunged into the river.

Officers using a boat found the submerged vehicle near Verburg Park after searching several minutes. A few minutes later, police found the bodies of the mother and a child.

Police said the girls who reported that the vehicle went into the river told police they were also looking for their uncle. He was soon found and police said he was not involved in the tragedy.

The Kalamazoo Forensics Crime Lab responded to the scene. A state police dive team helped with the recovery of the vehicle and search for the possible third victim.

Police asked anyone with information Kalamazoo Public Safety at 269-488-8911 or Silent Observer at 269-343-2100 or go to www.kalamazoosilentobserver.com.