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2 Pulled From Car After Plunge Into Icy Waters In Winona

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Rescuers pulled two bodies from a car that plunged into the Mississippi River in Winona, Minn. on Sunday.

The Winona County Law Enforcement Center said they received a report around 7:19 a.m. from someone who saw tire tracks going over the dike at Riverview Drive and 2nd Street.

Upon arrival, officers noticed broken guard rail, a purse and a significant amount of debris across the ice, plus a large hole. A license plate was also located at the scene, which indicates the vehicle is registered to a 36-year-old woman from Winona.

The two people pulled from the vehicle were located inside -- one man and one woman. They have not been identified.

Winona County Sheriff Dave Brand said in 1997, he did an investigation into a similar incident in the same spot along the river.

"Four St. Mary's kids went in at the same spot, and drown along with two dogs," he said.

He said it was unbelievable when he got the call about this latest incident.

2 Pulled From River

The Winona County Dive Rescue Team and LaCrosse County Dive Team on scene used an underwater camera to locate the victims inside the submerged vehicle.

Reports say the 36-year-old woman was believed to have been driving with three male passengers when it left a Winona tavern, just before 1:30 a.m.

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