Police continue search in Waikato river for missing woman

Police are continuing to search the Waikato River for missing female driver of a car that crashed through a bridge and into the water in Hamilton on Wednesday night.

Investigators have confirmed the driver was a 40-year-old Korean woman, whose name has not been released.

Searches of the river by local police would continue today (Sat), said police.

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

Weather conditions at the time were stormy and the incident happened on a stretch of road which is being widened.

"Currently the focus of our enquiries 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 40 metres downstream.

At the time witnesses told police they thought a person escaped from the vehicle and swam to safety, but Waikato road policing manager Inspector Leo Tooman said nobody had been found.