Mine search for missing teen, 23 years later

Karen Williams was last seen in Dawes Street in the town of Coober Pedy (above). Photo / Thinkstock

An old mine is being excavated in a new police search for a teenager who went missing more than 20 years ago in a South Australian outback town.

Karen Williams, 16, was last seen in Dawes Street, Coober Pedy, in the early hours of August 4, 1990.

Police say she had been with friends at the Opal Inn and at Sergio's Restaurant, before she was allegedly dropped off by a young local man in Dawes Street.

On Wednesday, police said new information had sparked the new search involving the excavation of an old mine shaft.

The teenager's disappearance was featured on Network Ten's crime show Wanted, resulting in five phone calls to Crime Stoppers.

Police say they are particularly interested to find out if anyone saw a red or orange Datsun 180B in the vicinity of Tomcat Road and Oodnadatta Road in the early hours of August 4.

Last year a $200,000 reward was offered for information leading to an arrest in the case.

- AAP