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Subscribe to RSSTwo bodies found in a submerged car in a South Carolina river are those of two North Carolina teenagers who went missing two weeks ago after telling friends they were driving to the beach, authorities said.
Kershaw County, S.C., authorities on Monday confirmed the bodies found Sunday afternoon in a car in the Wateree River off Interstate 20 were those of Jake Zigler, 18 and Ray Pierce, 17, the Charlotte Observer reported.
Authorities said it appeared that the car, a Pontiac G-6, veered across the median and went down an embankment into the dark water of the river.
“They ran off the bridge or just in front of the bridge,” said Catawba, N.C., Sheriff Coy Reid told the newspaper.
An autopsy was scheduled Monday to determine the cause of death.
Zigler and Pierce, seniors at Bandys High School in Catawba County, were last seen alive in the early morning of Oct. 13, when they left a party near Sherrills Ford, N.C., and told friends they were driving to Myrtle Beach to see the sunrise, according to the Observer.
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The last known contact the teens had with anyone was through a text message to a friend at 2:44 a.m. on Oct. 13.
A search team from the CUE Center for Missing Persons spotted the bumper of the missing teen’s car on Sunday afternoon on an embankment leading down to the Wateree River, according to WCNC-TV.
Crews then fund the car submerged in the water between two bridges, WCNC reported.
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Sorry for the family and friends of the boys.
More alcohol related deaths? Please, kids, think before you get behind the wheel.
Thoughts and Prayers to family and friends.
I will hold all other comments until the Facts are known.
Actually, kids, think before you drink. After you drink, you can't think.
Luckily, the eratic driving of these teens didn't kill anyone important.
These young men were very important and did not deserve to die. Kids make bad choices, so do adults. What a horrible thing to say about anyone.
why is it that the conclusion of alchahol related is the first post. How bout the benefit of the doubt-or-innocent until otherwise proven?
My first impulse was - inexperienced driver - missed curve in road - tragic end.
So young - r.i.p.
I recall this story from several weeks ago, sad this is result... was hoping they were just out being kids on the beach thinking no one was missing them and having fun.
My prayers to the family and their friends....
Cell phone?
They're no longer taking call or texts.
tragic! Prayers to family and friends. so young... so sad!
I've done things like that when I was a teenager. We would go to PCB on the drop of a hat but I didn't drink back then.
Sad, he might of just fell asleep I've been guilty of that when I was that age.
So very sad. Two young kids, having the time of their lives, and an accident. How terrifying for them, and how horrible for their families and friends. We've all been young before, and invincible. :(
SAD! I have 6 children and one of them is 20, I worry every day that something tragic like this doesn't happen. I can't imagine the pain of losing a child...5 more drivers to go...Lots of worry being a parent...Prayers to the families...So young..RIP
I hope they didn't suffer. RIP
It would be nice if everyone wouldn't automatically jump to conclusions that these boys were drinking, doing drugs or being reckless. The autopsy revealed that they died from drowning and nothing else. The SC highway patrol has also determined that another vehicle hit their car which caused them to go down the embankment into the river. If their car had only been hit a few seconds later, then the guardrail would have stopped them from going down the embankment into the river. Of course, it was a hit and run. Now, THAT driver was most likely drunk and thus the reason for leaving the scene. These boys were good kids and didn't deserve to die like this. They were the future and I am sure they would have made a difference in this world. Stop and think before making statements until you get the facts. All you accomplish by making cruel remarks and what they were doing, is to hurt their families and all who cared about them. One of the reasons I know this is because my grandchildren are friends with them and this has affected them immensely. It also affected all the students in their school. Just put yourselves in their loved ones' shoes and think how you would feel if someone said things about your children like have been posted on here. Not too pleasant of a thought, huh?? Didn't think so.
To the families and loved ones, my thoughts and prayers are with you. I am so sorry for your loss.