Man vanishes after trying to help mom and child escape sinking SUV, California cops say

UPDATE: The body of a man who jumped into the San Joaquin River to save a woman and her daughter has been recovered, California officials say.

The story continues below.

A mom and daughter escaped an SUV crash into the San Joaquin River, but a bystander who tried to help vanished and was later found dead, California authorities reported.

An SUV hit a tree and crashed into the river near Tracy at 1:29 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 10, the California Highway Patrol said in a news release.

The driver and her 5-year-old daughter escaped the sinking SUV, officers said. A bystander helped the girl to shore but her mother disappeared beneath the water.

The bystander dove in to look for the injured woman, officers said.

She was later found on shore with major injuries, but it’s unclear if she was rescued or what happened to the man, officers said.

Officers initially were not sure whether the man drowned or left the scene, but searchers found his body at 11:58 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 11, the CHP reported.

The San Joaquin County Coroner’s Office identified him as Eddie Gerardo Cervantes Lora, 41, of Manteca, KOVR reported.

“It just shows everyone in this community what a quick response and what a true hero is, and honestly, it’s unfortunate the way that it ended today,” Heather Brent, a spokesperson for the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office, told the station.

The mother was taken to a hospital, officers said. She is in critical condiiton, KOVR reported.The 5-year-old was unhurt.

Investigators ask anyone with information to call 209-319-4300.

Tracy is about 70 miles south of Sacramento.

This story was originally published October 11, 2023 at 11:53 AM with the headline "Man vanishes after trying to help mom and child escape sinking SUV, California cops say."