Denver firefighters worked Thursday to remove six vehicles that have been submerged in the South Platte River for several weeks.
“Because the water has been flowing so much, we haven’t been able to put divers in the water,” said Lt. Mike Pylar, spokesman for the city’s fire department.
Pylar says all six vehicles are in the area of Platte River Drive and Florida Avenue.
A seventh vehicle is submerged in the river near Sports Authority Field at Mile High, officials say, and fire crews are hoping to remove it from the river soon. Pylar said there could be even more that authorities haven’t found yet.
Pylar said a few of the vehicles found in the area of Platte River Drive are believed to have been stolen and dumped in the South Platte. The owner of a Jeep found out it was stolen Sunday when Denver police , police said.
Investigators are checking all the vehicles’ registrations to see if they were reported stolen.
“Even though the water levels have receded, the divers are in the water that is 4 or 5 feet deep,” Pylar said. “They don’t know what’s in the water.”
Pylar said there are concerns about undercurrents, snags, sticks, branches and trash beneath the water’s surface.
“They can be snatched pretty quickly by something,” Pylar said. “It’s a very dangerous situation.”
Officials say the fire department’s entire dive rescue team is working to remove the vehicles.
