Search under way for man who fled police, leapt into flooded Mississippi River

Published 8:11 am Wednesday, March 6, 2019

Authorities are searching for a man who leapt from his car when Mississippi police pulled him over and jumped into the flooded Mississippi River early Wednesday.

Media outlets reported the man, whose identity has not yet been released, was stopped for a traffic matter at approximately 5 a.m. on Washington Street in Vicksburg. As officers investigated the man’s identity, they realized he had active warrants out for his arrest.

Before Vicksburg Police could detain the man, he reportedly jumped from his vehicle, ran down a hill and dove into the Mississippi River near the Ameristar Casino. The river at Vicksburg is at flood stage, meaning the river is moving more rapidly and with more force than usual.

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Search crews were working to try and locate the man in the river, using boats and other means.