Crime & Safety
South Bend, IN River Recovery: 2 Vehicles Removed Tuesday
South Bend, IN – Crews removed two vehicles from the St. Joe River in South Bend Tuesday, but officials are stressing that the activity was part of planned recovery work and not a new emergency.
By Nora Whitfield · 2026-09-29T20:44:33.604Z
South Bend, IN – Crews removed two vehicles from the St. Joe River in South Bend Tuesday, but officials are stressing that the activity was part of planned recovery work and not a new emergency.
According to the South Bend Fire Department, the vehicles came from two separate incidents that occurred earlier this year. Fire officials said both vehicles had already been confirmed to be free of occupants when those incidents occurred.
The recoveries had been delayed while crews waited for suitable river conditions.
Officials said water levels, current speeds and weather all had to be considered before personnel could safely remove the vehicles while minimizing risk to divers and boat operators.
Photos shared by South Bend emergency agencies Tuesday showed crews working from a fire department boat as one of the vehicles was lifted vertically from the water using recovery equipment.
The operation was a joint effort between the South Bend Fire Department and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Members of both agencies worked together on the river to recover the submerged vehicles.
The South Bend Police Department also shared the fire department’s announcement Tuesday, helping clarify that the visible emergency personnel and equipment along the river were not responding to a newly reported crash or water rescue.
Officials said the vehicles had remained in the river until conditions were considered appropriate for a safe recovery.
The department did not provide additional details in Tuesday’s announcement about the original incidents that resulted in the vehicles entering the river or exactly how long each had been submerged.
Residents seeing boats, divers or other emergency equipment along the St. Joe River Tuesday were advised that the activity was connected to the previously reported incidents and did not represent an ongoing public emergency.