Authorities: Stolen vehicle found ditched in the Housatonic

KENT -- State Police are searching for a suspect in the theft of a sport utility vehicle found Wednesday submerged in the Housatonic River.

According to authorities, the Nissan Xterra, which had been stolen earlier that day, was discovered down an embankment on Schaghticoke Road, about three-quarters of a mile north of Bulls Bridge Road.

From what investigators could gather, the thief hastily ditched the vehicle after apparently running off the road and striking a tree, according to police.

The front air bags were deployed, the keys were still in the ignition, and the vehicle was in park, according to police.

Officials said it appeared the thief was not inside the vehicle when it went into the water.

"All indicators appear that it was an accident before it went into the water," State Police Sgt. Shawn Corey said Thursday.

He declined to further discuss the incident, citing the ongoing investigation.

The SUV's owner, upon discovering her vehicle was missing, went looking for it on her own. She called authorities only after finding the SUV's license plate and a set of tire tracks leading down an embankment, police said.

It was not clear whether she knew the thief.

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