A small SUV containing a body was pulled from the Des Moines River in rural Keokuk Tuesday afternoon.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Department was sent to Red Wing Access on Valley Road to investigate a report of a partially-submerged vehicle, according to Sheriff Stacy Weber.
“With the assistance of Jackson Township Fire Department and the Keokuk (Volunteer) Emergency Corps, one vehicle has been removed from the river,” Weber said. “There was a deceased person found inside the vehicle.”
No foul play is suspected, according to the sheriff.
He said Tuesday afternoon that officials were in the process of identifying the body and notifying family members.
“We’re not going to disclose the type of vehicle or the sex of the person who was found at this time, out of respect for the family,” Weber said.
He believes the vehicle went into the water “within the last two weeks.”
Weber said the Keokuk Police Department is handling the investigation with assistance from the sheriff’s office.
Additional agencies assisting at the scene were Lee County EMS, the Lee County Medical Examiner’s Office and Iowa State Patrol. Rairden Towing removed the vehicle from the scene.
More information will be posted as it becomes available.
