Eel River search continues for family that went missing on trip to San Jose

LEGGETT - The search continued Wednesday for a Southern California family who went missing while traveling from Oregon to San Jose last week.

Authorities are focusing on a section of the Eel River north of Leggett in Mendocino County, where a maroon late-model Honda Pilot was spotted fully submerged amid heavy rains Friday, according to the California Highway Patrol Garberville area field office.

The SUV is the same kind the Thottapilly family - 42-year-old Sandeep, 38-year-old Soumya, 12-year-old Siddhant and 9-year-old Saachi - was driving on a road trip from Portland back to their home in Valencia, with a planned stop to see relatives in San Jose.

In a Facebook post Wednesday, the CHP said multiple agencies searched the river with help from a CHP helicopter.

“Unfortunately, the rain has returned to the region, which could limit some of the techniques deployed by search teams,” the CHP said. “The search teams will continue to evaluate the conditions of the river and the current weather going forward.”

Strong currents and poor clarity have also hindered the search for the vehicle, according to the CHP.

A notice posted to Facebook stated relatives last heard from the family Thursday and reported them missing over the weekend when they did not show up for their scheduled Friday visit.

The San Jose Police Department confirmed a missing persons report was filed Sunday involving the Thottapilly family.

The family's last known location was the Klamath-Redwood National and State Parks area, 50 miles north of Eureka. The spot where the SUV veered off Highway 101 and into the Eel River is near Smithe Redwoods State Reservation, 85 miles south of the town.

“Based on our preliminary investigation and witness statements, we believe the vehicle was a 2016 or 2017 Honda Pilot maroon in color,” CHP Officer William Wunderlich told the Santa Clarita Valley Signal on Tuesday. “This vehicle and the missing person's vehicle are similar but, at this time, we are unable to confirm it's the same vehicle.”

Relatives have traveled to the scene to watch the search and rescue efforts, according to KOBI-TV.

“They believe the situation, it's one in the same,” CHP Lt. Randy England told the news station.

Last month, an SUV plunged into the Pacific Ocean roughly 30 miles up the coast from where authorities are searching for the Honda Pilot. A family of eight died in that crash, which authorities believe was deliberate based on data recovered from the vehicle's software.

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