Pictures point to missing Unimog

Police think they have found the wreckage of an Army Unimog vehicle that crashed into a Central Otago river last month with three soldiers on board.

Sergeant Steve Ereckson, of Cromwell, said yesterday that sonar images had been developed and police "might have found the truck". Officers have used the sonar search device to identify an "area of interest" about 100m downstream from where the Unimog crashed into the Kawarau River nearly two weeks ago.

Mr Ereckson said the vehicle, in 8m of water, was identifiable by two wheels the imaging had shown up.

The area where the vehicle has been found is 70m to 100m down from the rapid where it is thought to have hit the water after plunging off State Highway 6.

Police are still looking for the body of the third soldier.

The body of Private Ashley Patrick Goodwin, 19, of Motueka, was recovered at the crash scene. On Saturday, a second body was found. It has yet to be identified.

Mr Ereckson said a decision might be made tomorrow on whether to salvage the Unimog.

- NZPA