Crime & Safety

Driver Dies After Sending Truck Into East Bay Channel: Police

Police say they originally listed the death as suspicious, but now believe it was a solo-vehicle crash.

Authorities pull out a submerged truck from the Harbor Channel.
Authorities pull out a submerged truck from the Harbor Channel. (The Richmond Police Department)

RICHMOND, CA — The death of a man who was found submerged in a truck at the Harbor Channel in Richmond is no longer believed to have been suspicious, police said.

Police say the driver appeared to drive into the channel around 1 a.m. Saturday along the 1300 block of Canal Boulevard.

Officers found the man's body in the water in the Harbor Channel around 11: 17 a.m. Personnel from three agencies then used sonar and other marine resources to locate the driver's truck inside the channel, according to the Richmond Police Department.

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Investigators at the time categorized the driver's death as suspicious, but said there was no active threat to the public at the time, police said.

On Wednesday, police said the driver's death was now being investigated as a fatal solo-crash as investigators found no evidence of foul play involved.

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"The Richmond Police Department extends its sincere condolences to the driver’s family and loved ones during this difficult time," police said early Wednesday. "We also want to thank our allied agencies for their swift response and for providing the specialized marine and dive resources that were critical in locating and recovering the vehicle."

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