ELKINS, W.Va.— Randolph County Sheriff Rob Elbon confirmed a body was discovered in a submerged vehicle Monday in a flooded backwater area of the Tygart River in Randolph County.
The vehicle was located mid-morning Monday near the submarine bridge at East Dailey. Elbon said it was unclear if the motorist had been travelling east or west, but evidently lost control and landed upside down in the water.
The male driver has been identified as Austin Lawrence, 26, of Elkins.. Elbon tells MetroNews the Sheriff’s Department received a call from the victim’s employer saying he failed to show up for work on Monday morning.
Road conditions were extremely slick Monday in the area. Investigators said the road conditions may have contributed to the accident, but they could not determine what time the crash occurred.