Authorities locate car in Cedar River near Palo

LINN COUNTY - The Linn County Sheriff's Office has located a car in the Cedar River, near the Blairs Ferry Road bridge outside of Palo. Crews made the discovery Sunday, two weeks after a motorist reported seeing a vehicle sinking into the river at about 7:15 p.m. on March 14. An initial search of the area turned up nothing.

Strong river currents prevented divers from getting to the car on Sunday. High water levels had prevented officials from conducting searches of the area over the past two weeks.

Linn County Sheriff Brian Gardner tells GazetteOnline that he assumes the discovery is related to the disappearance of Nancy Collins, of Atkins, but couldn't say for sure on Sunday. Collins was reported missing on March 14, the same day a motorist on Blairs Ferry Road said she saw a vehicle roll into the river near Palo.

Sheriff Gardner says water levels will have to come down before any recovery efforts take place.

Check back for updates.