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Debris confirms SUV that fell in river belonged to missing family, officials say
CBS ^ | April 13, 2018, 6:53 AM | Staff

Posted on 04/13/2018 9:48:25 AM PDT by Red Badger

LEGGETT, Calif. -- Recovered vehicle debris and personal items confirm that an SUV seen plunging into a storm-swollen Northern California river belonged to a family that disappeared last week, authorities said Thursday. The vehicle itself and the four members of the Thottapilly family have not been recovered from the Eel River, which remains too dangerous for divers to enter, but searchers along the banks located numerous items consistent with a Honda vehicle and interior, and items consistent with a family traveling on vacation, the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office said in a statement.

"Several items have been positively identified, by family members, as belonging to the Thottapilly family," it said. "These items were of a personal nature and will not be described further at this time, but it does confirm the fact the vehicle that was seen going into the river was that of the Thottapilly family."

The family from Santa Clarita in Los Angeles County was last heard from while driving along California's redwood coast, about 180 miles north of San Francisco.

The family was traveling home from Portland, Oregon, and was reported missing April 8 by a relative in San Jose who had expected them to arrive for a visit two days earlier.

The family members were identified as Sandeep Thottapilly, 41; Soumya Thottapilly, 38; Siddhant Thottapilly, 12; and Saachi Thottapilly, 9.

The family was traveling as a strong storm dumped rain on Northern California.

Before the family was known to be missing, authorities in Mendocino County received reports that a vehicle southbound on U.S. 101 went off the highway and tumbled into the Eel River. The vehicle had submerged by the time rescuers arrived.

"The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office has been in contact with numerous other county dive teams and technical rescue responders that can be called upon, when the vehicle is located, to assist with recovery of the vehicle," the office said. "Once recovered the Highway Patrol will conduct a complete mechanical inspection of the vehicle as part of the accident investigation."

CBS San Francisco reported that at the family home in Southern California, a single candle sat on the porch, burning in hopes the homeowners will be able to blow it out upon their safe return.

"It is very tough. The responsibility is felt," said California Highway Patrol Officer William Wunderlich. "We are doing everything within our power to locate this vehicle and to bring some closure to whoever the occupants may be."

Farther south along the Mendocino County coast, authorities continue to look for members of a family missing since an SUV made a deadly and possibly intentional plunge off a towering ocean bluff along State Route 1 last month.

Sarah and Jennifer Hart and their six adopted children were believed to be in the family's SUV at the time. Five bodies were found March 26 near Mendocino, a few days after Washington state authorities began investigating the Harts for possible child neglect, but three of their children were not immediately recovered from the scene along the shoreline.

A body was pulled out of the surf last weekend but was not immediately identified.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: California; US: Oregon
KEYWORDS: local; suv; thottapilly
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To: PGR88

Having driven that section of YS 101, I would guess they were going too fast for such a curvy road. Lots of turns.


21 posted on 04/13/2018 10:54:14 AM PDT by Inyo-Mono
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To: lefty-lie-spy

What on earth could be bigoted about what I just said?

I detect a strong streak of racism in you.


22 posted on 04/13/2018 10:54:36 AM PDT by Balding_Eagle ( The Great Wall of Trump ---- 100% sealing of the border. Coming soon.)
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To: Inyo-Mono

YS 101=US 101


23 posted on 04/13/2018 10:55:16 AM PDT by Inyo-Mono
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To: Rebelbase
Well, that shoots down all the conspiracy that they were abducted by a UFO or bigfoot.

It was Toonces!


24 posted on 04/13/2018 10:56:54 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: Red Badger
I called it. Post #18: https://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3646463/posts
25 posted on 04/13/2018 11:00:24 AM PDT by CivilWarBrewing (Get off my back for my usage of CAPS, especially you snowflake males! MAN UP!)
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To: CivilWarBrewing

A river is somehow thick brush? An embankment is a bridge?

Sorry, no, the only thing you called is that they went off the road.


26 posted on 04/13/2018 11:22:53 AM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: Balding_Eagle

The “I think I detect pattern” part. We usually use that to refer to Religion Of Peace terror incidents or “Black Lives Matter” or “Antifa” incidents that the MSM ignores. There is no “pattern” here regarding this tragedy. That is all.


27 posted on 04/13/2018 11:34:01 AM PDT by lefty-lie-spy (Stay metal. For the Horde \m/("_")\m/ - via iPhone from Tokyo.)
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To: smokingfrog

You are guessing he is an idiot. . .and ‘assuming’ speed a factor. . .Sad starting place. . .


28 posted on 04/13/2018 11:50:09 AM PDT by cricket
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To: Red Badger

Get-there-itus. The driver should know that he can’t drive along that road like he’s on an interstate, when it’s raining. Get off the road and wait.


29 posted on 04/13/2018 12:55:56 PM PDT by cicero2k
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To: lefty-lie-spy

SEARCHERS FOUND BODY OF ONE CHILD FROM MISSING THOTTAPILLY FAMILY
http://kymkemp.com/2018/04/13/searchers-found-body-of-one-child-from-missing/


30 posted on 04/13/2018 1:54:53 PM PDT by Lurkina.n.Learnin (Wisdom and education are different things. Don't confuse them.)
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To: lefty-lie-spy

Well if you can’t see a pattern in the names you’ve got to be blind as a bat.


31 posted on 04/13/2018 2:33:06 PM PDT by Balding_Eagle ( The Great Wall of Trump ---- 100% sealing of the border. Coming soon.)
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To: Inyo-Mono

Hydroplaning can get you in an instant, especially if using cruise control.


32 posted on 04/13/2018 2:38:58 PM PDT by polymuser (Its terrible to contemplate how few politicians are hanged today. - Chesterton)
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To: polymuser

I agree.


33 posted on 04/13/2018 2:52:38 PM PDT by Inyo-Mono
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To: cricket
Pat Berkowitz, who witnessed the crash last week, told ABC station KGO-TV in San Francisco he saw the car flip over into the river.

“The car kept going straight and it was going off the pavement,” he said. “It’s on two wheels and I’m going by and it’s flipping over.”

Driving too fast? brakes or steering failed? distracted diving? drove off the road on purpose to kill himself and family? -- which is most likely?

34 posted on 04/13/2018 3:26:09 PM PDT by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open (<o> ---)
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To: Spktyr
I didn't know they went off a bridge. Hey, my psychic reading told me distinctly their vehicle went off a road. What can I tell you? This is the message I received psychically. Also, that thick brush was involved, but not bad, eh?

I'm also being told there is one survivor who is lost. We'll just have to wait and see.

35 posted on 04/13/2018 4:21:38 PM PDT by CivilWarBrewing (Get off my back for my usage of CAPS, especially you snowflake males! MAN UP!)
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To: smokingfrog

Ask Will Ferrell how great SUV’s are. They are worthless once they lose control due to high center of gravity, often FLIPPING OVER.


36 posted on 04/13/2018 4:23:30 PM PDT by CivilWarBrewing (Get off my back for my usage of CAPS, especially you snowflake males! MAN UP!)
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To: CivilWarBrewing

https://mediaassets.10news.com/photo/2018/04/13/will_ferrell_suv_crash2_041218_1523647936556_83770128_ver1.0_640_480.jpg


37 posted on 04/13/2018 5:41:05 PM PDT by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open (<o> ---)
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To: Red Badger

Another two die in a crash near the same area yesterday...
http://kymkemp.com/2018/04/13/two-women-in-killed-when-their-car-crossed-into-oncoming-traffic-and-were-struck-by-a-van/


38 posted on 04/14/2018 7:36:37 AM PDT by tubebender
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