MENDOCINO CO., 2/20/26 – One person was found dead in a vehicle that drove off a highway into the Eel River in northeastern Mendocino County after a three-day search, the California Highway Patrol said Friday.
The victim was identified as Gary Niesen of Covelo, according to a family posting on social media. His wife Yvonne Niesen was missing.
Their vehicle drove off state Highway 162 and into the river on Tuesday morning east of the unincorporated community of Laytonville, the CHP said.
The crash was reported after a family member drove the highway to look for them and found a disturbance in the grass, debris from the car and personal belongings leading into the water, the family said.
High water levels and poor visibility initially made conditions too hazardous for crews to search the river, the CHP said.
On Friday, a diver found the vehicle in the river with Gary Niesen’s body found inside, according to the family. The search will continue for Yvonne on Saturday.
The crash remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the CHP’s Garberville-area office at (707) 932-6100 or the Humboldt Communication Center at (707) 268-2000.