Update, 7:50 p.m.: After spending several hours Monday afternoon and evening recovering an SUV from the Red River, crews literally came up empty: No one was inside.
The vehicle was a silver Chevrolet Suburban, according to Clarksville Police spokesman Scott Beaubien. The owners of the vehicle have been notified, and the investigation is ongoing.
Clarksville Police, Clarksville Fire Rescue, Montgomery County Emergency Medical Service and the Montgomery County Rescue Squad worked in conjunction with Waterdogs SCUBA & Safety and Jones Brothers Towing and Trucking to recover the vehicle.
Divers hooked tow cables to the vehicle so that it could be pulled from the river.
Anyone with information or additional video footage is asked to contact FACT Investigator Crosby, 931-648-0656, ext. 5336.
Update, 7 p.m.: The vehicle has been recovered and removed from the scene. Clarksville Now is withholding the vehicle description and clear photos until more information about any possible victims is released by authorities.
Update, 6:30 p.m.: All lanes of Wilma Rudolph Boulevard are now open.
Update, 5:55 p.m.: Crews have pulled the vehicle up out of the river. No information is available yet on the driver or any possible passengers.
From the scene, the vehicle could be seen through the trees as it was lifted near the side of the bridge.
Update, 5:20 p.m.: The wrecker appears to be in use, but there’s no confirmation that it is pulling the vehicle from the river.
As night has fallen, crews have set up lights to continue work.
Update, 4:10 p.m.: Divers have been working the scene, but crews have not yet begun removing the vehicle.
Update, 1:45 p.m.: Emergency crews are getting in position to remove the vehicle from the river.
Traffic is backed up through the area, particularly southbound traffic, which is backed up to Dunbar Cave Road. Drivers are urged to avoid the area.
Previously:
CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The southbound lanes of Wilma Rudolph Boulevard will be shut down near the Red River bridge this afternoon to recover a vehicle that slid into the river over the weekend.
Starting at about 1:30 p.m., the Clarksville Police Department will shut down the lanes starting at Old Trenton Road down to Kraft Street, according to police spokesman Scott Beaubien.
This will allow first responders and emergency personnel the room to dive and recover the vehicle, which may have a deceased driver and passengers inside.
CPD will be shifting the lanes to allow traffic to continue in both directions, but police are asking the public to avoid the area and find alternate routes.
The crash
At about 2:32 a.m. Sunday, Clarksville Police Sgt. Del Giorno was driving down Wilma Rudolph Boulevard near the Red River bridge and noticed power lines down across the roadway and that a utility pole was snapped off, according to previous reports.
Upon further investigation, Giorno noticed vehicle debris near the side of the bridge leading down toward the river. Clarksville Fire Rescue put their boat in the water, and at about 3:55 am, they located a vehicle under the water using sonar.
It appeared to be a weather-related crash. Roads were slick at the time with an icy mix of precipitation.
Emergency crews postponed diving because of hazardous weather conditions on Sunday, waiting for warmer temperatures Monday afternoon.
This article will be updated.
Chris Smith contributed to this report.