CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Emergency crews have found and recovered the body of the man who crashed his SUV into the Red River over the weekend.
Just after 1 p.m. Tuesday, Cumberland K9 Search and Recovery picked up on the body’s location, and within a short time the body was located and recovered, according to information released by Clarksville Police Wednesday morning, following next of kin notification.
The victim is identified as Juan Salazar, 44. Salazar had been reported missing by family members on Sunday around 6:50 p.m., when he did not return home the previous night.
On Monday, the silver Chevrolet Suburban that Salazar was driving was pulled from the river, but no driver was found. The next day, Clarksville Fire Rescue and Clarksville Police dragged the river, looking for the driver.
“Investigators believe that speed and weather were a factor in this crash,” said Scott Beaubien, CPD spokesman. Roads were slick at the time with an icy mix of precipitation.
Anyone with information or additional video footage are asked to contact FACT Investigator Crosby, 931-648-0656, ext. 5336.
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.
