Officials found a submerged SUV in the Potomac River Monday evening, nearly 24 hours after a 911 caller reported seeing the vehicle drive into the water. After crews succeeded in pulling the vehicle out, they found the body of 72-year-old Barbara Bushkin of Virginia.
Fairfax County Police had reported Bushkin missing on Monday afternoon, and said she was “endangered due to mental and/or physical issues.” In the evening, FCPD confirmed that Bushkin had died of injuries sustained during a crash into the Potomac River.
Crews had been searching for Bushkin’s black SUV in the Potomac since Sunday night, when it was driven into the water near Roosevelt Island. After crews couldn’t find the car for more than an hour, they switched from a search and rescue mission to search and recover, according to NBC 4. It was unknown at the time if there was anyone in the car, but D.C. Fire and EMS spokesperson Vito Maggiolo told the outlet that “the likelihood of recovering somebody who’s still alive at this point would be highly unlikely.”
The Metropolitan Police Department said that it is conducting an investigation into Bushkin’s death.
Natalie Delgadillo