Authorities pull abandoned car from Mississippi River

CHESTER, Ill. -- A stolen vehicle found off the Illinois shore of the Mississippi River near Chester appears to have been intentionally ditched in the water.

According to Chester police detective Ryan Coffey, the car was spotted at 11:22 a.m. Wednesday by an employee of Con Agra Milling Co., located near the river bank.

Except for its rooftop, the Chevrolet Cavalier was submerged. No one was inside the vehicle, which was reported stolen out of St. Louis on June 29, Coffey said. No illegal items were in the vehicle when found, and the car was not believed to be connected to any other crime.

The absence of skid marks near the shore where the car was found prompted investigators to rule out an accident and lean toward the possibility the vehicle was intentionally ditched in the river, Coffey said. No suspects have been located.

Anyone with information on the investigation was encouraged to call the Chester Police Department at (618) 826-5454.

Chester is about 15 miles north of Perryville, Mo.