No Body Found After Car Pulled From River In Battle Creek

A vehicle has been pulled from the Kalamazoo River over a week after it’s believed to have crashed into it. However, authorities say that it was completely empty of occupants.

The City of Battle Creek says that around 4:30pm Sunday, a fisherman noticed a vehicle’s bumper at the convergence of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Rivers, which is where authorities initially believed the car to be. After a couple of hours, area authorities along with local towing companies were able to pull the grey Hyundai Sonata from the river; it was missing its hood, front bumper and most of its rear window.

A body was not found inside.

Authorities will continue to look into whether 31-year-old Cortez Lewis of Detroit was the driver of this car; he was reported missing Sunday, March 5, the day after the car is believed to have entered the river. As well, the Hyundai is believed to be one that was rented by Lewis’ girlfriend, and cell phone data showed that Lewis was in the area where the car entered the river.

Lewis is a black man standing at 5 foot 9, weighing 195 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. If you have any information, please contact the Battle Creek Police or Silent Observer.