Driver of vehicle that crashed off bridge still missing

The police dive squad searches for the driver of the vehicle which crashed through the bridge's railings. Photo / Christine Cornege

Daily searches of Waikato River have yet to turn up any trace of a woman missing since her four wheel-drive crashed off a Hamilton bridge and into the river last Wednesday night.

Police were searching as far away as Ngaruawahia south of the crash site, Detective Senior Sergeant Karl Thornton said.

"We're using a combination of police boats and private river users have also been told to keep an eye out."

No sections of the river have been closed off to the public while police search for the missing 40-year-old woman, whose name is yet to be released.

Police have been in contact with the missing woman's family, here and in Korea.

The Toyota Hilux Surf the woman was driving ploughed through railings and plunged 18m into the river as it crossed Pukete Bridge on Wairere Drive about 8.30pm last Wednesday.

The weather at the time was stormy and the incident happened on a stretch of road which is being widened.

"Currently the focus of our inquiries is establishing the woman's movement prior to the crash while at the same time trying to locate her," Mr Singer said.

"This has taken the shape of land and boat-based searches of the Waikato River and its banks, hospital checks and consultation with consular officials while keeping the missing woman's family apprised of what is happening."

The empty vehicle was recovered 40m downstream from the bridge.