NELSON COUNTY, Va. – UPDATE - Jan. 30, 2023:
Police said they have found another body in connection with the incident. Read more here.
UPDATE - Jan. 6, 2023:
VSP has identified the 11-year-old recovered on Dec. 27 as Jasiah Davis of Arrington, Va.
In addition, further investigation revealed that Shabazz was the court-appointed legal guardian of three of the passengers. The fourth passenger was a friend.
UPDATE - Jan. 5, 2023:
State police have identified two of the three bodies they found near a submerged vehicle in a Nelson County river on Dec. 2022.
On Dec. 27, 2022 at 11:41 a.m., police said they were alerted of a submerged vehicle in the Rockfish River near the intersection of Bridgeport Lane and Johnson Hollow.
When they got to the scene, police said they found the body of 17-year-old Christopher Doss and what they believe to be the remains of an 11-year-old boy on the riverbank. Police said they are still waiting on the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Richmond to confirm the identity of the 11-year-old.
Once the vehicle was taken out of the water, VSP said they found the body of 30-year-old Pharoah Shabazz.
Police said they were told two more people were believed to be inside the vehicle: an 18-year-old man and a 12-year-old boy. Several agencies and departments in the area are continuing to search for them.
[READ MORE: Amherst County Public Schools mourns loss of student after body found in Nelson County]
At this point in the investigation, authorities said they are still working to determine when exactly the incident happened.
We’re told it appears that a 1997 Toyota 4Runner tried to cross the flooded river at a low river crossing on Bridgeport Lane, which is on private property, before being swept away by the strong current.
VSP Search and Recovery Team divers went back to the Rockfish River on Jan. 3, 2023, to resume search efforts for the two still believed to be missing to no avail, authorities said.
Police said the VSP SRT divers are continuously assessing the water levels to figure out which day is best to return and conduct another search of the river.
VSP Aviation Division, Virginia Department of Emergency Management search teams, the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, and the Nelson County Sheriff’s Office have been assisting with the ongoing search and investigative efforts, according to VSP.
None of the people were related, authorities said, and the incident is still under investigation.
Stay with 10 News as this breaking news story develops
UPDATE - Dec. 29, 2022:
Police have continued to search the area, as well as an AEP dam downstream, but have not found anything more.
We’re told the next step will be to call a chopper in, which will likely happen on Dec. 30.
ORIGINAL STORY
Three people are dead and two are still missing after a vehicle was found submerged in the Rockfish River in Nelson County, according to Virginia State Police.
On Tuesday, Dec. 27 at 11:41 a.m., police said they were alerted of a submerged vehicle in the Rockfish River near the intersection of Bridgeport Lane and Johnson Hollow.
When they got to the scene, police said they found an 11-year-old boy and a 17-year-old boy dead on the riverbank.
Once the vehicle was taken out of the water, VSP said they found a 30-year-old man dead inside.
At this point in the investigation, they are still working to determine when exactly the incident happened, according to state police.
We’re told it appears that a 1997 Toyota 4Runner tried to cross the flooded river at a low river crossing on Bridgeport Lane, which is on private property, before being swept away by the strong current.
Virginia State Police said that several agencies and departments in the area are continuing to search for two more people believed to be inside the vehicle.
None of the people were related, authorities said, and the three that were found at the scene have been taken to the Medical Examiner’s Office in Richmond for autopsy, examination, and positive identification.
Authorities said their names will not be released until the ME has confirmed their identities and their next of kin has been notified. The investigation is ongoing.