Rescue team checks out car driven into river

A stolen car stripped of much of its interior was driven into the Spokane River Tuesday afternoon, sending emergency workers to the river to ensure no one was inside.

Crews were called about 3:40 p.m. to DeSmet Avenue and South Riverton Avenue on a report that a car was in the water.

The Spokane Fire Department’s water rescue team determined no one was inside the Acura Integra, which came to rest in about two feet of water, said Battalion Chief Joel Fielder. The Spokane City-County Water Rescue Team pulled the car from the river.

Witnesses told police that they saw two men leave the scene in a red car, said Spokane County Sheriff’s Deputy Tom Walker, who leads the city-county team.

The driver likely took the car to the area, got out and threw it in gear, Fielder said.

The car leaked gasoline into the river, creating a slick several yards long.