Mystery surrounds SUV that drove off Virginia Beach pier amid search for missing person

When someone drove an SUV off a fishing pier as the sun rose on Saturday in Virginia Beach, first responders shot to the scene in an effort to rescue whomever was inside.

The rescue attempt turned into a recovery effort, as police said conditions that day were too dangerous to pull the submerged vehicle from the Atlantic Ocean's rough winter waters.

As of Thursday, the SUV remained at the bottom of the sea and whoever was inside it remained a mystery.

"It’s choppy and the current and tide, coupled with visibility, are making it difficult for rescue divers to recover the vehicle," Virginia Beach Police Department Public Information Officer Jude Brenya told USA TODAY. "We assume there is at least one person inside including the driver, and anyone in the vehicle is presumed deceased."

Brunya said police were investigating whether the incident was connected to a case of a man reported missing over the weekend.

But just who the missing person is remains a mystery, as police remained tight-lipped Thursday about the missing man's identity at his family's request.

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Multiples 911 calls and an SUV in the water

Just after 6:50 a.m. Saturday, police said, multiple 911 calls flooded into Virginia Beach Emergency Communications and Citizen Services reporting a vehicle had driven off the pier into the ocean near 14th Street.

"The exact number or identity of occupants remains unknown," police posted on Facebook after the day after the incident. "The goal of this mission is to safely retrieve the vehicle, reunite all occupants with their loved ones, and maintain the integrity of all evidence."

When the vehicle is recovered police said, the Medical Examiner's Office will confirm the identity of whomever is inside of it.

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'The circumstances do match'

Around the same time the vehicle plunged into the ocean, police said, the missing man's family contacted police.

"The circumstances do match," Brunya said. "All we are waiting for is to confirm it's him 100%. The facts in this incident match that missing persons report."

Police said they are "working diligently" to bring closure to the driver's loved ones through its 'investigative and recovery process."

A nearly six-day recovery operation

Portsmouth-based Crofton Industries, who has been aiding police in the salvage operation for five days, have not been able to retrieve the SUV due to weather and water conditions

"We have been advised by #CroftonIndustries that conditions are not suitable today for recovery operations," the Virginia Beach Police Department posted on X Thursday afternoon. "They are monitoring the weather and there are indicators they may be able to attempt to retrieve the vehicle tomorrow."

Brenya said recovery crews will continue to monitor the weather and hope to retrieve the vehicle on Friday.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.