Toyota 4Runner Plunges into the Concho River

A driver and possibly an unknown number of passengers are missing following a single vehicle crash that landed a Toyota 4Runner in the North Concho River.

Unconfirmed and according to witnesses at the scene, the 4Runner was southbound on S. Irene St. and hit a telephone pole. Disregarding the damage and continuing straight ahead, the 4Runner crossed Rio Concho Dr. and plunged down the hill in and into the river.

Witnesses said that one person, unconfirmed to be a passenger, was rescued. There are possibly three other victims. Police and firefighters are searching along the banks of the river for them.

Police and fire rescue were dispatched to the crash at 6:17 p.m. Tuesday.

This is a breaking story. More information will be posted here when available. Everything posted thus far is unconfirmed with authorities.

UPDATE 8:50 p.m.

By Amanda Henson

San Angelo Police Sgt. Heronema gave the official police statement this evening. As officers were responding to a crash reported at 6:17 p.m. on the corner of S. Irene and Maize where a vehicle struck a pole, while in route to that location, additional information was obtained that the vehicle had actually driven into the river. Upon arrival, the officers observed a maroon Toyota 4Runner partially submerged in the river, an occupant was outside of the vehicle above water, officers immediately stripped off their gear and jumped in to the man’s rescue.

At the time the man was saying that there were three other occupants in the vehicle, causing emergency teams to look for other victims. The San Angelo Fire Department responded shortly thereafter and began searching for the other occupants the man claimed were with him. The man and only known occupant was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, still maintaining his story that there were others with him.

Home Motors removed the wreckage.  Heronema said there were no indicators of any other occupants in the vehicle. “All of the doors were shut, there was no broken glass, the only glass broken was by that of the officer on the scene, and the SAFD when they broke out the moon roof,” Heronema said.

At the hospital, under further questioning, the occupant came clean that there were no other occupants in the vehicle, and that he was indeed the driver. It was confirmed he did crash with the pole two blocks down, and was fleeing the scene of the accident before driving into the Concho River at the 1200 block of Rio Concho Dr. Heronema said the driver did not realize he was coming to a T intersection and failed to turn.

Mikel Shaffer, born 3/19/93, will be charged with striking a highway/landmark fixture, which according to Heronema is basically a hit and run. Shaffer is still at the hospital receiving care for minor injuries, there are no additional charges related to this incident against Shaffer at this time.  Heronema says that Shaffer did not appear to be intoxicated, and is unsure as to why he lied about having other occupants in the car.

AEP is currently working to repair the downed pole caused by Shaffer's excellent driving skills.